Los Angeles County, California
[pic]
Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0
Finding Words
You can use the Find command to find a complete word or part of a word in the current PDF document. Acrobat Reader looks for the word by reading every word on every page in the file, including text in form fields.
To find a word using the Find command:
1. Click the Find button (Binoculars), or choose Edit > Find.
2. Enter the text to find in the text box.
3. Select search options if necessary:
Match Whole Word Only finds only occurrences of the complete word you enter in the box. For example, if you search for the word stick, the words tick and sticky will not be highlighted.
Match Case finds only words that contain exactly the same capitalization you enter in the box.
Find Backwards starts the search from the current page and goes backwards through the document.
4. Click Find. Acrobat Reader finds the next occurrence of the word.
5. To find the next occurrence of the word:
Do one of the following:
Choose Edit > Find Again
Reopen the find dialog box, and click Find Again. (The word must already be in the Find text box.)
Copying and pasting text and graphics to another application
You can select text or a graphic in a PDF document, copy it to the Clipboard, and paste it into another application such as a word processor. You can also paste text into a PDF document note or into a bookmark. Once the selected text or graphic is on the Clipboard, you can switch to another application and paste it into another document.
Note: If a font copied from a PDF document is not available on the system displaying the copied text, the font cannot be preserved. A default font is substituted.
To select and copy it to the clipboard:
1. Select the text tool T, and do one of the following:
To select a line of text, select the first letter of the sentence or phrase and drag to the last letter.
To select multiple columns of text (horizontally), hold down Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you drag across the width of the document.
To select a column of text (vertically), Hold down Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Option+Command (Mac OS) as you drag the length of the document.
To select all the text on the page, choose Edit > Select All. In single page mode, all the text on the current page is selected. In Continuous or Continuous – facing mode, most of the text in the document is selected. When you release the mouse button, the selected text is highlighted. To deselect the text and start over, click anywhere outside the selected text.
The Select All command will not select all the text in the document. A workaround for this (Windows) is to use the Edit > Copy command.
2. Choose Edit > Copy to copy the selected text to the clipboard.
3. To view the text, choose Window > Show Clipboard
In Windows 95, the Clipboard Viewer is not installed by default and you cannot use the Show Clipboard command until it is installed. To install the Clipboard Viewer, Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, and then click the Windows Setup tab. Double-click Accessories, check Clipboard Viewer, and click OK.
[REPORT OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION
ON APRIL 18, 2006, BEGINS ON PAGE 286.]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE APRIL 18TH, 2006 MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL BEGIN. WE'LL FIRST BE LED IN PRAYER BY PASTOR ROLLEFSON OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MASTER, AND OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SYLVESTER WARSAW, SR., WHO IS THE COMMANDER OF THE SAMMY DAVIS POST NUMBER 784 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. SO IF THE AUDIENCE WOULD PLEASE RISE. PASTOR?
PASTOR JOHN ROLLEFSON: THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO GIVE AN OPENING INVOCATION FOR TODAY'S MEETING. EVEN BEFORE RECEIVING, THE OTHER DAY, YOUR GUIDELINES FOR INVOCATIONS, I DECIDED THAT, AS A CHRISTIAN WHO IS ALSO AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO STRONGLY VALUES THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS ARTICULATED IN OUR FIRST AMENDMENT, THAT A PRAYER WOULD NOT SERVE US WELL. JESUS HIMSELF ONCE WARNED US AGAINST PRAYING PUBLICLY. PLEASE KNOW THAT I PRAYED FOR YOU ALREADY AND THAT, EVERY SUNDAY, OUR CHURCH PRAYS FOR ITS ELECTED LEADERS AND THAT WE PRAY THAT YOU MIGHT BE GIVEN THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO PURSUE JUSTICE, PEACE AND THE WELFARE OF ALL CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY. FURTHERMORE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I OR ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADER HAS THE POWER TO INVOKE GOD IN THE SENSE OF CALLING GOD'S ATTENTION TO WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. RATHER, I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS THE ONE WHO CALLS US INTO THE VOCATIONS OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, WHERE WE ARE EACH AND ALL CALLED TO PERFORM GOD'S WORK IN THE CONTEXTS OF OUR VERY SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU KNOW THAT, JUST TWO DAYS AGO, THOSE OF US OF THE WESTERN CHRISTIAN TRADITION CELEBRATED EASTER, THE DAY THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE GRAVE WHERE HE HAD BEEN LAID FOLLOWING HIS UNJUST EXECUTION BY THE POLITICAL AUTHORITIES OF HIS DAY. NEXT SUNDAY IN MANY OF OUR CHURCHES, WE WILL HEAR THIS PARTICULAR TEXT THAT I THINK HAS RELEVANCE TO YOUR WORK. THE TEXT IS FROM THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF ACTS. "NOW THE WHOLE GROUP OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND SOUL AND NO ONE CLAIMED PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF ANY POSSESSIONS, BUT EVERYTHING THEY OWNED WAS HELD IN COMMON. THERE WAS NOT A NEEDY PERSON AMONG THEM, FOR AS MANY AS OWNED LANDS OR HOUSES SOLD THEM AND BROUGHT THE PROCEEDS OF WHAT WAS SOLD. THEY LAID IT AT THE APOSTLES' FEET AND IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH, AS ANY HAD NEED." THIS IS A TEXT, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT BECAME THE INSPIRATION OF KARL MARX'S FAMOUS "FROM EACH, ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY; TO EACH, ACCORDING TO THEIR NEED," A TEXT THAT WE CAN ADMIT NEITHER FREE MARKET NOR SOCIALIST SOCIETIES HAVE FOUND IT EASY TO EMBODY AND CERTAINLY THE CHURCH HASN'T, EITHER. IT REMAINS FOR US A CHALLENGE TO SEEK THE WELFARE OF THE CITY RATHER THAN MERELY OURSELVES AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. SO, INSTEAD OF A PRAYER, I'D LIKE TO READ, AS INSPIRATION FOR YOUR IMPORTANT WORK TODAY, A BIT OF A PROPHETIC POEM WRITTEN BY THE KENTUCKY POET FARMER, WENDELL BERRY. IT'S ENTITLED, "MANIFESTO" AND I THINK ARTICULATES WELL WHAT MANY OF US THINK COMES MUCH CLOSER TO US ARTICULATING GENUINE CHRISTIAN VALUES THAN WHAT SOME ARE CLAIMING TODAY AS SUCH. "SO, FRIENDS, EVERY DAY, DO SOMETHING THAT WON'T COMPUTE. LOVE THE LORD. LOVE THE WORLD. WORK FOR NOTHING. TAKE ALL THAT YOU HAVE AND BE POOR. LOVE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT DESERVE IT. DENOUNCE THE GOVERNMENT AND EMBRACE THE FLAG. HOPE TO LIVE IN THAT FREE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NO ANSWERS. INVEST IN THE MILLENNIUM. PLANT SEQUOIAS. SAY THAT YOUR MAIN CROP IS THE FOREST THAT YOU DID NOT PLANT, THAT YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO HARVEST, CALL THAT PROFIT. PROPHESIZE SUCH RETURNS. LAUGH. LAUGHTER IS IMMEASURABLE. BE JOYFUL THOUGH YOU HAVE CONSIDERED ALL THE FACTS. AS SOON AS THE GENERALS AND POLITICOS CAN PREDICT THE MOTIONS OF YOUR MIND, LOSE IT. LEAVE IT AS A SIGN TO MARK THE FALSE TRAIL, THE WAY YOU DIDN'T GO. BE LIKE THE FOX WHO MAKES MORE TRACKS THAN NECESSARY, SOME IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. PRACTICE RESURRECTION." THANKS. IT'S BEEN GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. BLESSINGS ON YOUR IMPORTANT WORK.
SYLVESTER WARSAW, SR.: THANKS FOR INVITING ME DOWN AGAIN TO DO THE PLEDGE FOR YOU. PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE. SHALL BEGIN. [ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME FIRST GIVE MR. WARSAW THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF SUPERVISOR BURKE. MR. WARSAW LIVES IN GARDENA. HE'S A MEMBER OF THE SAMMY DAVIS POST NUMBER 784. HE'S A PASTOR WITH THE RETURNING TO THE LORD CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE ATTENDED JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM PACIFIC CHRISTIAN COLLEGE IN FULLERTON. HE'S MARRIED AND HAS TWO CHILDREN AND HE'S LIVED IN THE SECOND SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS. SO, MR. WARSAW? [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: MEMBERS OF THE BOARD-- MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE WERE LED THIS MORNING IN PRAYER BY JOHN ROLLEFSON, WHO SERVES AS THE PASTOR OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MASTER IN WEST LOS ANGELES. HE HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ECUMENICAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS A BOARD MEMBER HERE IN CALIFORNIA OF PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS UNITING AND THE UNIVERSITY RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE AT U.C.L.A., MY OLD STOMPING GROUND WHEN I WAS A STUDENT. PASTOR ROLLEFSON IS A GRADUATE OF LUTHER COLLEGE, YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL, THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND FROM THE THEOLOGICAL UNION IN BERKELEY. HE'S WELL EDUCATED. PASTOR ROLLEFSON IS A MEMBER OF THE SIERRA CLUB, THE A.C.L.U., THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND THE BREAD FOR THE WORLD ORGANIZATION. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT YOUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING WAS MEMORABLE AND UNIQUE, GENEROUS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, AND APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS GIVEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING, PASTOR. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. WE'LL BEGIN THE AGENDA.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ON PAGE 4, NOTICE OF CLOSED SESSION FOR CONSIDERING CANDIDATES FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION OF PROBATION OFFICER, WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM LATER IN THE MEETING BEFORE YOU GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. ON PAGE 7, AGENDA FOR THE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, ITEMS 1-D AND 2-D.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: AGENDA FOR THE MEETING OF THE REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT, ITEM 1-P.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ITEMS 1 THROUGH 17. ON ITEM NUMBER 10, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM FOR THREE WEEKS TO MAY 9TH, 2006 AND THE REST ARE BEFORE YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, ITEMS 18 THROUGH 23 AND THEY ARE BEFORE YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM SUPERVISOR KNABE TO HOLD THIS ITEM. HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IS REQUESTING THAT THE CONTRACT WITH MAMASIR COMMUNITY COUNSELING SERVICE BE CONTINUED TO MAY 2ND, 2006.
SUP. KNABE: I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO PROBLEM CONTINUING FOR TWO WEEKS? OKAY. MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. CONTINUE THE TWO ITEMS.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: CONTINUE THE WHOLE ITEM. OKAY. COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES, ITEMS 25 AND 26.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: COUNTY COUNSEL, ITEM 27.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY, SECONDED, WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: FIRE DEPARTMENT, ITEM 28.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: HEALTH SERVICES, ITEMS 29 AND 30.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: HUMAN RESOURCES, ITEM 31.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. MENTAL HEALTH, ITEM 32.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: PARKS AND RECREATION, ITEMS 33 AND 34. ON ITEM 34, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM SUPERVISOR MOLINA TO APPROVE THE SERVICES AND SUPPLIES, WHICH IS A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1.464 MILLION, AND CONTINUE TO MAY 2ND, 2006 THE FIXED ASSET BUDGET PORTION THAT IS 1.131 MILLION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
SUP. KNABE: SO WE ARE APPROVING THE S & S PORTION AND CONTINUING THE OTHER PART?
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: YES. APPROVING THE S & S PORTION, THE 1.464.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHICH ITEM IS THIS?
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ITEM 34.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PROBATION.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: PARKS AND RECREATION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I MEAN PARKS AND REC, I'M SORRY.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: AND CONTINUE THE FIXED ASSET PORTION, THE 1.131 MILLION, TO MAY 2ND.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: OKAY. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE 33, AS APPROVED. PROBATION, ITEMS 35 THROUGH 38.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, ITEM 39.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: PUBLIC WORKS, ITEMS 40 THROUGH 62. AND, ON ITEM 62, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH TO HOLD THIS ITEM FOR A REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE REST ARE BEFORE YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: REGISTRAR-RECORDER, ITEM 63...
SUP. KNABE: WHICH ITEM UNDER PUBLIC WORKS ARE WE HOLDING? 62?
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 62. REGISTRAR-RECORDER, COUNTY CLERK, ITEM 63.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: SHERIFF, ITEMS 64 AND 65. SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY IS REQUESTING 64 BE HELD AND ITEM 65 IS BEFORE YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR, ITEM 66.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS, ITEMS 67 THROUGH 70.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WE HAVE ITEMS 71 AND 72.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ACTUALLY, LET ME READ THEM INTO THE RECORD. WE HAVE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COUNTY CODE TITLE 2, ADMINISTRATION, TO CLARIFY THE TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR'S AUTHORITY AND DUTY RELATED TO THE APPROVAL OF ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PAYMENT FOR OBLIGATIONS OWING TO THE COUNTY. AND ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION AMENDING THE COUNTY CODE, TITLE 6, SALARIES, ADDING AND ESTABLISHING THE SALARY FOR TWO EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS, CHANGING THE SALARY FOR ONE NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION, CHANGING THE TITLE OF ONE NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE AND CHANGING CERTAIN CLASSIFICATIONS AND NUMBERS OF ORDINANCE POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF CHILD SUPPORT, CORONER AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY. THEY'RE BEFORE YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION, ITEM 73. PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE: I OBJECT!
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY-- ITEM NUMBER WHICH?
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 73.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: 73? MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: SEPARATE MATTERS, ITEM 74 IS BEFORE YOU. PERSON FROM THE AUDIENCE: I OBJECT!
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT... MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ITEM 75 IS THE TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, 2002 ELECTION, 2006, SERIES C, IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 20 MILLION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ON THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, THEY WILL BE HELD FOR LATER IN THE MEETING. WE HAVE ITEMS 76 THROUGH 78. ON ITEM 76, THERE WAS A GREEN SHEET SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEM FOR AN APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT. THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL HAS REQUESTED THAT THIS APPROPRIATION BE TAKEN OFF CALENDAR; THEREFORE, WHEN THE ITEM IS UP FOR HEARING, IT WILL BE A 3-VOTE MATTER.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 79, THE BUDGET MATTER, WE'LL HOLD THAT FOR A REPORT. 80, MISCELLANEOUS, ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA REQUESTED BY BOARD MEMBERS AND THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, WHICH WERE POSTED MORE THAN 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, AS INDICATED ON THE GREEN SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA. ITEM 80-A.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY MOLINA. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 80-B.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO MOVED. SECONDED BY KNABE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 80-C.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 80-D.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO MOVED. SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ON 80-E, I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT FROM SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR AND THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND POSITIONS FOR STATE LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION ACTIVITIES TO RESOLVE THE BACKLOG THAT HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THAT ITEM IS BEFORE YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO MOVED. SECONDED BY KNABE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ON 80-F, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS TO MAY 2ND.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND THAT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR JUNE ELECTION? OKAY. MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED, WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 80-G.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO MOVED. SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: 80-H.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: THAT COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' SPECIAL ITEMS BEGIN WITH SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THIS IS ALSO THE DAY WHERE THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES BRING YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO WORK TODAY, SO WITH ME IS MARY CHRISTINE AND MICHAEL, JR., WHO ARE THE JUNIOR SUPERVISORS FOR THE FIFTH DISTRICT TODAY, ALONG WITH THE OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SOME OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO COME OUT RIGHT NOW TO DO A PICTURE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS. [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
SUP. MOLINA: DO YOU WANT TO GET ON YOUR KNEES? THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE YOU. OKAY? SO GET ON YOUR KNEES. THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SEE MARY UP THERE? MICHAEL, SEE YOURSELF ON TELEVISION? SEE? THIS MORNING, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEW CONSUL-GENERAL FOR THE PHILIPPINES, AMBASSADOR WILLIE GAA, WHO IS A NATIVE OF THE PHILIPPINES, WHO OBTAINED HIS BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE FROM MANUEL COZONE UNIVERSITY IN 1966 AND HIS LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. HE LATER RECEIVED A MASTER'S OF LAW IN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STUDIES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK. PRIOR TO ASSUMING HIS POSITION AS CONSUL-GENERAL IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, HE WAS THE AMBASSADOR TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND TO AUSTRALIA FOR THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT. SO THE AMBASSADOR IS HERE WITH HIS WIFE, ERLINDA, AND THEIR TWO SONS. WE WELCOME THEM TO LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN A STRONG, COOPERATIVE EFFORT. THE PHILIPPINES HAVE ALWAYS HAD ACTIVE CONSUL-GENERAL AMBASSADORS AS THEIR COUNTRY'S AMBASSADOR HERE WHO HAS BEEN QUITE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT TRADITION WITH YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
THE HONORABLE WILLY C. GAA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR ANTONOVICH. I WISH TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE FORMALLY PRESENTED AS THE NEW CONSUL-GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO LOS ANGELES. I AM TRULY HONORED BY THIS GESTURE. I AM FORTUNATE THAT MY ASSIGNMENT AS CONSUL-GENERAL COMES AT A TIME WHEN FILIPINOS AND FILIPINO-AMERICANS ARE COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL OF SUSTAINED FILIPINO MIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FROM 1906 TO 2006. ALTHOUGH FILIPINO ARRIVALS IN THE UNITED STATES DATE BACK TO AS EARLY AS THE 16TH CENTURY, THE FIRST MAJOR WAVE OF FILIPINO MIGRANTS CAME THROUGH HAWAII IN 1906. SUBSEQUENTLY, MANY OF THEIR DESCENDANTS WENT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THESE VARIOUS WAVES OF FILIPINO MIGRANTS, NOW NUMBERING ABOUT 800,000 IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY ALONE, HELPED SHAPE THE FOUNDATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY. ALONG WITH THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THE TILLED LANDS IN CALIFORNIA TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, VOTE VARIOUS WARS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM AND LIBERTY AND THEY ARE NOW PRACTICALLY WORKING IN ALMOST EVERY FIELD OF ENDEAVOR IN THIS COUNTY, BE IS AS CITY OR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, DOCTORS, NURSES, HEALTHCARE GIVERS, ACCOUNTANTS, EVEN JOURNALISTS, ACTORS AND ACTRESSES, ARCHITECTS, INTERPRETERS OR AS PLAIN EMPLOYEES IN THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS. I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO THINK THAT THEY HAVE ACQUAINTED THEMSELVES QUITE WELL AND HAVE HELPED PUT ________________ TO THEIR ADOPTED COUNTRY, SURELY ENCOURAGED BY THE CONTINUING OPENNESS AND ADHERENCE OF LOS ANGELES TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY. THERE WILL BE OTHER AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUT THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN OTHER FORUMS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DO YOU HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS?
SUP. MOLINA: YES, I HAVE ONE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR MOLINA? EXCUSE ME. DO YOU WANT TO DO EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH?
SUP. MOLINA: SURE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME RECOGNIZE NOW OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2006, WHO IS TINA CARWILE. SHE'S BEEN WORKING FOR THE COUNTY FOR 16 YEARS, SHE'S A LIBRARIAN WITH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WHERE SHE'S ASSIGNED TO YOUTH SERVICES. HER VARIED CAREER IN THE LIBRARY HAVE-- REPRESENTS HER WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, READING AND LEARNING. AS EMERGENT LITERACY PROGRAM COORDINATOR, TINA HAS GREAT SUCCESS IN MANAGING THE FAMILY PLACE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH DEVELOPS A UNIQUE FAMILY- FRIENDLY LIBRARY ATMOSPHERE PROVIDING SPECIAL EARLY LITERACY RESOURCES FOR OUR PARENTS AND PRESCHOOLERS. IN 2004, SHE WAS NOMINATED BY HER PEERS AS THE LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR. THAT SAME YEAR, SHE WAS NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR BY THE GARDENA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SHE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ALTRUCIA INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED OF REDONDO BEACH, WHICH IS A SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT DONATES FUNDS TO LITERACY RELATED ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS. SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, A WEB DESIGN CERTIFICATE FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY DOMINGAS HILLS AND A MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES. SO, IN RECOGNITION OF HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, WE RECOGNIZE HER AS THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ]
TINA R. CARWILE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MY SON, JUSTIN, WHO IS HERE WITH ME TODAY. OUR COUNTY LIBRARIAN, MARGARET DONLAN- TODD, AND OUR DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES, PENNY MARKEY, MY SUPERVISOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. IT TRULY IS. WE WORK VERY HARD IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO SERVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, FROM LITERACY SERVICES TO HOMEWORK CENTERS TO SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO SERVE. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH FAMILY PLACE, WHICH IS JUST STARTING TO LEAD US IN SO MANY NEW DIRECTIONS IN SERVICE TO PRESCHOOLERS AND CHILDREN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
MARGARET TODD: I AM SO THRILLED THAT TINA HAS BEEN SELECTED. SHE IS JUST THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST OF OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND SHE IS DOING SUCH INNOVATIVE WORK WITH EMERGENT LITERACY SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HER. THANK YOU, TINA. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: CONGRATULATIONS. SUPERVISOR MOLINA?
SUP. MOLINA: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK CARLOS JACKSON FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AS WELL AS FRANCES ESPINOZA, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF OUR HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER, TO COME UP AND JOIN US. THIS YEAR, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER HAVE JOINED OTHER FAIR HOUSING AGENCIES ACROSS THIS NATION FOR VERY IMPORTANT ANNUAL CELEBRATION AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS "FAIR HOUSING. IT'S NOT AN OPTION, IT'S THE LAW." YOU KNOW, NOT TOO LONG AGO, IT WAS ENTIRELY LEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PROSPECTIVE RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS ON THE BASIS OF COLOR, CREED OR RELIGION, AS WELL AS RACE. 38 YEARS AGO, CONGRESS PUT A STOP TO IT BY PASSING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WHICH GUARANTEES THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM ANY TYPE OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. AND FREEDOM FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY WHICH, AS WE ALL KNOW, HAS A VERY RICH AND DIVERSE POPULATION AND THE HRC PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN VIRTUALLY-- IN VIGILANTLY IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING THESE VERY CRITICAL HOUSING LAWS. THE HRC'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FAIR HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDED ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, WHICH SERVES OVER 83,000 CLIENTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. LAST YEAR, THE HRC RECEIVED OVER 305 POTENTIAL DISCRIMINATION INQUIRIES AND 33% OF THEM RESULTED IN LITIGATION. SO EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD THIS RIGHTS FOR ALL THESE YEARS, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO ATTEMPT TO DISCRIMINATE FROM ONE ANOTHER AS FAR AS HOUSING. SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY THIS MONTH, BUT WE CELEBRATE THE WORK OF THE HOUSING RIGHTS COMMISSION AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. WE CONGRATULATE YOU, MS. ESPINOZA, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. PLEASE COME UP AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD. CARLOS, CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. MOLINA: SHARE A FEW WORDS, IF YOU WOULD, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO.
FRANCES ESPINOZA: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR MOLINA, ALL OF THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND ALSO CARLOS JACKSON AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. EACH YEAR, WE ASSIST-- WE HAVE A 10% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS WE ASSIST THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE COMMITMENT OF THE COUNTY, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON BEHALF OF ALL THE STAFF OF THE HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
CARLOS JACKSON: THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MOLINA, AND ALSO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. FAIR HOUSING IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER IN THIS PARTICULAR COUNTY. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE ISSUE, THE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING RENTAL HOUSING, ALSO ANY TYPE OF HOUSING AND, WITH THE FAIR-- YOU DECLARED THE MONTH OF APRIL FAIR HOUSING WEEK-- MONTH, EXCUSE ME, THAT IT REALLY SENDS OUT A MESSAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES AND CREATING FREE ACCESS TO PEOPLE TO OBTAIN DECENT AND SAFE HOUSING. AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
SUP. MOLINA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, AGAIN, THE ENTIRE MONTH WILL BE CELEBRATIONS BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT EVERYONE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE RIGHTS AND WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE IN THE COUNTY WHO CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT LAW IS ENFORCED EVERY SINGLE DAY, SO WE CONGRATULATE THEM FOR THEIR WORK. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. MOLINA: THAT'S ALL MY PRESENTATIONS.
SUP. KNABE: MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO MAKE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TODAY. SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, SOME 12,000. I THINK IT'S RATHER FITTING THAT WE'RE DOING THIS TODAY WHEN THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH WAS FROM THE LIBRARY AND INVOLVED IN LITERACY PROGRAMS. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO OUR 2006 OPERATION READ PROGRAM. OPERATION READ WAS CREATED AS A TUTORIAL PROGRAM TO RAISE LITERACY WITH SCORES OF STUDENTS WHO ARE PART OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, IT HAS GROWN TO INCORPORATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS HERE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. AND STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM READ THE DESIGNATED BOOK, THEY COMPLETE AN ACADEMIC ACTIVITY, USUALLY A REPORT, AND, IF THEY DO THAT, THEY'RE REWARDED WITH A SCREENING OF THE ACCOMPANYING MOVIE. IN THE PAST YEARS, WE HAVE DONE ALL THREE "LORD OF THE RINGS" BOOKS AND "POLAR EXPRESS." THIS YEAR WE WERE PLEASED AND HONORED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE C.S. LEWIS FOUNDATION, ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE DISNEY STUDIOS, AMC MOVIE THEATERS, THE CERRITOS LIBRARY, WESTMONT COLLEGE, MOLINA HEALTHCARE, THE BOEING COMPANY, AT&T AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF PROBATION, OUR OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY. THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER TO DONATE THEIR TIME, RESOURCES AND FINANCES. THEIR HARD WORK PAID OFF. WE HAD 12,000 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HERE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ "THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE". THEY HAD TO WRITE A REPORT, IT HAD TO BE APPROVED BY A TEACHER, AND, WHEN THAT WAS COMPLETED, THEY GOT TO SEE A MOVIE AND PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO TO BRING TOGETHER THE LIFE LESSONS TAUGHT IN THE BOOK. SO IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I THINK OUR FIRST YEAR WHEN WE DID THIS, WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE A THOUSAND AND NOW WE'RE UP TO 12,000 KIDS BEING IMPACTED. ON A SAD NOTE, I MUST ALSO MENTION THAT MR. PAUL HEGA, THE DIRECTOR OF OUR LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, HE WAS A GREAT SUPPORTER OF OPERATION READ AND WILL BE MISSED. HE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OUR PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVED THE ACADEMICS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE TOOK SOME TIME UPSTAIRS TO PRESENT SOME SCROLLS TO OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SO, AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO HONOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR DILIGENT SERVICE TO THE 2006 OPERATION READ PROGRAM. FIRST OF ALL, TO THE ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND JOINING US HERE TODAY, MR. JEFF GREEN AND JEFF IS A PRINCIPAL AT CERRITOS HIGH SCHOOL AND, AS I SAID UPSTAIRS, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE HAD TAUGHT BOTH MY BOYS AND COACHED THEM, SO HE SURVIVED TWO KNABE SONS. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. KNABE: THANK YOU. NEXT, MR. MIKE SHALOTSKI, FROM AT&T, FORMERLY SBC. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. KNABE: NEXT, FROM MOLINA HEALTHCARE, DR. MARTHA BERNADETTE. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. KNABE: THE GOOD DOCTOR WOULDN'T WANT ME TO SAY THIS EITHER BUT I'VE VIRTUALLY KNOWN DR. BERNADETTE SINCE BIRTH. NEXT, A GOOD FRIEND AND-- GOOD FRIENDS AND A GREAT CORPORATE CITIZEN HONORING THE BOEING COMPANY. AND, LET'S SEE. STEVE? AND NANCY. ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY FROM THE C.S. LEWIS FOUNDATION, WE HAVE DR. STANLEY MATSON. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. KNABE: AGAIN, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANKS TO ALL OF THEM. 12,000 KIDS WERE IMPACTED SO WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. KNABE: WE DIDN'T GET TO SAY THANK YOU TO HER UPSTAIRS BUT ALSO WENDY JACKSON FROM THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS SORT OF THE RAILROADER IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS AS WELL, TOO. WENDY, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DID YOU HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS, ZEV?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: NO.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: TODAY WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, WHO WILL JOIN ME IN THIS SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO MARK ONE OF THE MOST SADDEST PART IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE ON APRIL 24TH IN 1915'S OTTOMAN EMPIRE'S TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S SYSTEMATIC EXTERMINATION OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY. RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, INTELLECTUALS, WOMEN, CHILDREN WERE AMONG THE 1.5 MILLION VICTIMS WHO WERE ARRESTED AND MURDERED. DUE TO THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY, OUR ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THOSE WHO HAVE DIED DUE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ATROCITIES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN BY DEDICATING EACH APRIL 24TH AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. THROUGH THIS REMEMBRANCE AND OPENLY CONDEMNING THIS ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST THE ARMENIANS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATES ITS SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS FOR CONSTANT VIGILANCE TO PREVENT SIMILAR EVENTS IN THE FUTURE. ARMENIAN NOW IS A FREE AND INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC, HAVING EMBRACED DEMOCRACY FOLLOWING THE DISSOLUTION OF THE SOVIET UNION, AND I WAS PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION TO OVERSEE THE FIRST OPEN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE IN ARMENIA A FEW YEARS AGO. OUR COUNTY IS THE HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF ARMENIANS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY HAVE ENRICHED OUR COUNTY THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELDS OF BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, MEDICINE, GOVERNMENT AND THE ARTS. AND WITH US TODAY ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS DYNAMIC COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ARCHBISHOP DURDURIAN, WHO IS THE PRIMATE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH; AND ARCHBISHOP HOSIPIAN OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN'S CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA; ARMEN HAMPAR, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA; ARMEN CARAPESHEEHAN, WHO IS EXECUTIVE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, WESTERN REGION; PETER DIRUKIAN, WHO IS THE ARMENIAN COUNCIL OF AMERICA; ANNETTE VANTONIAN, WHO IS ARMENGENIAN FROM THE ARMENIAN CHAMBER-- AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; WE HAVE VEKAN CATACHATORIAN, WHO IS THE ARMENIAN RIGHTS COUNCIL OF AMERICA; GREG KREKORIAN, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GLENDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD AND MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND JOHN KREKORIAN, WHO IS THE PUBLISHER OF BUSINESS LIFE AND LIVING MAGAZINES; AND STEVE DADIDIAN, WHO IS THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. SO, ON BEHALF OF THE-- AND WE'RE ALSO PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS SCROLL TO SEVERAL GREAT- GRANDCHILDREN OF SURVIVORS OF THAT GENOCIDE WHO ARE HONORING THEIR ANCESTORS TODAY. ROSMIC DURTAVICIAN, WHO IS A 20-YEAR-OLD CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AT NORTHRIDGE STUDENT, AND SIMONE DAROK, A 15-YEAR SOPHOMORE AT GLENDALE HIGH SCHOOL. LET ME INTRODUCE HIS EMINENCE DURDURIAN. [ APPLAUSE ]
HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DURDURIAN: WE ARE HONORED, SUPERVISOR MICHAEL ANTONOVICH, SUPERVISORS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. AS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, TOGETHER WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO THANK THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND THE OFFICIALS, THE SUPERVISORS, MAYOR MICHAEL ANTONOVICH AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE FIRST GENOCIDE OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THIS WILL BE A VERY HISTORIC DAY FOR US. EACH YEAR, WE COMMEMORATE APRIL THE 24TH TO PRAY FOR OUR VICTIMS BUT A DAY ALSO TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE JUSTICE TO THE ARMENIAN CAUSE IN GUARDING OUR FAITH, OUR TRADITIONS AND ALSO IN BECOMING CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS MOST HOSPITABLE COUNTRY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INVITE MR. ARMEN HAMPAR TO ADDRESS YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ARMENIAN DELEGATION. [ APPLAUSE ]
ARMEN HAMPAR: ON BEHALF OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH AND THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO MAYOR ANTONOVICH AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR RESPONSE AND SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FIGHT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DO A GROUP PICTURE. THANK YOU AGAIN. [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: GREG IS IN CHARGE OF THE JEWISH WAR VETERANS LITTLE LEAGUE T-BALL IN GLENDALE WHERE LITTLE MARY IS A TIGER AND MICHAEL IS A DODGER THIS YEAR. NOW WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE HONORABLE STEVE COOLEY, FORMER CLASSMATE FROM OUR COLLEGIATE DAYS, TO JOIN ME AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROCLAIMS THE WEEK OF APRIL 23RD THROUGH THE 29TH AS CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY. NOW, THE DA'S VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS ORGANIZED BACK IN 1978 TO IMPROVE THE ADVOCACY, COMPENSATION, AND RESTITUTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME. THIS IS FINANCED BY SEVEN STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS AND COMPACTS FUNDED BY THE FINES AND PENALTIES PAID BY THE CRIMINALS DEFENDANTS, NOT TAX DOLLARS. LAST YEAR, OUR PROGRAM ADVOCATES ASSISTED NEARLY 22,000 VICTIMS AND MORE THAN 700 WITNESSES, FILED ALMOST 5,000 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND THE STATE RESTITUTION FUND. THE CLAIMS VERIFICATION UNIT PAID OUT NEARLY $10 MILLION IN BENEFITS TO VICTIMS, NEARLY $2 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY FUNERAL BURIAL ASSISTANCE AND A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY ALLOCATIONS FOR FOOD AND SHELTER. TODAY ARE FIVE OUTSTANDING HEROES, INDIVIDUALS WHO, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED, HAVE SHOWN GREAT COURAGE AND COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO USE THEIR TALENTS TO HELP CRIME VICTIMS HEAL AND RESUME THEIR LIVES. WITH YOU ALSO HAVE ATTENDEES IN THE AUDIENCE FROM 25 VICTIMS RIGHTS SUPPORT GROUPS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP AT THIS TIME, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE CONTINUES ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME FIRST GIVE THIS PROCLAMATION TO OUR OUTSTANDING DISTRICT ATTORNEY, STEVE COOLEY. AND-- SHOULD WE DO THESE FIRST? LET ME LET STEVE SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THE FIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH INDIVIDUAL SCROLLS. STEVE?
STEVE COOLEY: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND BOARD. JUST TO LET YOU UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OF THIS ISSUE AND WHAT THESE PEOPLE AND THOSE PEOPLE DO. EACH AND EVERY DAY IN AMERICA, 45 PEOPLE ARE MURDERED, 46 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVERS, 575 WOMEN AND MEN ARE RAPED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, 1,612 INDIVIDUALS ARE BATTERED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER, 2,482 CHILDREN ARE ABUSED OR NEGLECTED, 3,775 PEOPLE ARE STALKED, 9,391 HOMES ARE BURGLARIZED, AND OVER 25,000 PEOPLE ARE VICTIMIZED BY IDENTITY THEFT. WHEN THESE CRIMES OCCUR, A PERSONAL SENSE OF SECURITY IS LOST AND THE VICTIM IS GREATLY TRAUMATIZED. THIS IS VERY, VERY BAD NEWS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. HOWEVER, THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE'RE BLESSED IN OUR OFFICE WITH THE VICTIMS' PROGRAMS THAT REALLY DO WORK AND, IN THIS COUNTY, WE'RE BLESSED WITH VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT IN A VERY FOCUS, VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY SUPPORTIVE WAY HELP THE VICTIMS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN CRIMINALLY HARMED. THIS IS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' WEEK AND WE'RE GOING TO HONOR SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE UNIQUELY STOOD OUT AMONG ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND VICTIMS' SUPPORT IN SOME UNIQUE WAY BUT THEY REPRESENT A MUCH LARGER BODY OF PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH THESE ISSUES. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BY PARTICULARLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE PEOPLE IN MY OFFERS THAT OUR VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DO SUCH GOOD WORK AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PEOPLE SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE, THEY STOOD UP EARLIER. THE WORK THEY DO, AS I'VE LEARNED AS THE ELECTED D.A. I GO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, IS PHENOMENAL. WE ARE BLESSED WITH THE REAL WEALTH OF TREMENDOUS PEOPLE, WELL MOTIVATED AND THE VICTIMS THAT WE DO, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE IN OUR COUNTY ARE WELL SERVED BY THEM. SO, WITH THAT, LET ME CONGRATULATE YOU, CONGRATULATE THESE PEOPLE AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WEEK. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OUR FIRST HONOREE IS ALBERTO JIMENEZ, WHO WAS A CRIME VICTIM OF GANG VIOLENCE WHO HAS BECOME AN ADVOCATE, ROLE MODEL AND SPOKESPERSON FOR COMMUNITY-BASED "YOUTH ALIVE" AND "CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE". HE HAS HELPED HUNDREDS OF TEENS AVOID AND LEAVE THE GANG LIFE, FIND JOBS AND HOUSING AND RETURN TO SCHOOL TO LEAD A PRODUCTIVE LIFE. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE CONTINUES ] [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: CHARLISSA HEROD IS A VICTIM OF SERVICES ADVOCATE WITH OUR COUNTY'S VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE PAST-- SHE'S PROVIDED INTERVENTION FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WITNESSED THE MURDER OF HER MOTHER AND GRANDFATHER AT THE HANDS OF HER FATHER. SHE ALSO ARRANGED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE RESTITUTION TO PAY FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR THE YOUNG GIRL AND HER FAMILY AND HAS HELPED PREPARE A VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT WHICH SHE PERSONALLY READ TO THE COURT AT HER FATHER'S SENTENCING. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DEBORAH BRIZEL OF THE FAMILY VIOLENCE DIVISION LITIGATED THIS HEART-WRENCHING CASE USING THE TESTIMONY OF THE YOUNG GIRL. AND, BECAUSE OF HER LITIGATION SKILL, THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD WAS QUALIFIED AS A WITNESS AND ABLE TO GIVE HER EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THIS MURDER OF HER MOTHER AND THE ASSAULT ON HER GRANDFATHER TO THE JURY. OKAY, DEBORAH. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DR. ANNA NUGALIS HAS REPEATEDLY PROVIDED EMERGENCY COUNSELING FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO HOMICIDE, INCLUDING THE FAMILY OF RAY VITKUS, WHO DIED IN THE METRO LINK DERAILMENT. ADRIANA AREOLA, WHOSE FIVE CHILDREN WERE MURDERED BY THEIR FATHER AND THE SURVIVING CHILDREN OF MARIA NUNEZ, WHO WAS MURDERED BY HER HUSBAND, A MAN WHO THEN COMMITTED SUICIDE IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND YOLANDA HERNANDEZ, WHO IS AN OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR FOR DOCTOR NOGALES WHO ARRANGED FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION IMMEDIATELY FOR THESE CRIME VICTIMS WHO WORKED WITH THE FAMILIES TO SET UP A SCHEDULE FOR FOLLOW-UP COUNSELING ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS SO THAT THEIR SCHOOL AND WORK SCHEDULES WERE NOT IMPACTED. [ APPLAUSE ]
YOLANDA HERNANDEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YOU'RE THE HERO.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: CAN WE GET A GROUP PICTURE?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. GO GET THE DOG. NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE GIRL NAMED BELLA AND A LITTLE BOY NAMED ROCKY. THEY'RE A SHEPHERD MIX. THEY'RE ABOUT SEVEN WEEKS OLD AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BE ADOPTED NEXT WEEK WHEN THEY'RE EIGHT WEEKS OLD, SO THOSE WHO ARE AT HOME CAN CALL (562) 728-4644. AND THERE ARE FOUR MORE IN THE LITTER. OKAY. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WE'RE VERY PROUD BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF OUR ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOLINA HAS NO ADJOURNMENT MOTIONS. WE HAVE AN ADJOURNMENT MOTION FOR SUPERVISOR BURKE, WHICH I'M JOINING IN AND ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND THAT'S ARTHUR WINSTON, WHO WAS AN INSPIRATION AND DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKED FOR A METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, HE WAS HERE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ON HIS RETIREMENT AT THE AGE OF 100 FROM THE MTA, WHERE HE DEVOTED 76 YEARS OF SERVICE AND WE HAD PROCLAIMED HIS BIRTHDAY ON MARCH 22ND AS ARTHUR WINSTON DAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES IN HONOR OF HIS ROLE MODELING FOR ALL PEOPLE AND WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON HE WAS. ALSO, IN MEMORY OF NANCY ALICE CROUCH, WHO PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 16TH. SHE LEAVES TO CHERISH HER MEMORY HER DAUGHTER, BRENDA HARTLEY AND HER SONS, DR. PERRY CROUCH, RATEECEY TOMMY CROUCH AND MARK ANGELA CROUCH. TREVON REPITO, A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS KILLED IN A APPARENT GANG-RELATED SHOOTING LAST WEEK STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS HOME NEAR WATTS, SURVIVED BY HIS MOTHER, LAURA AND GRANDMOTHER, IBER. JUNE POINTER, THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING POINTER SISTERS, WHO WAS THE LEAD SINGER IN SEVERAL OF THE GROUP'S HITS WHO PASSED AWAY WITH CANCER AT THE UCLA MEDICAL CENTER. SHE LEAVES HER SISTERS, RUTH, ANITA AND BONNIE AND HER BROTHERS, AARON AND FRITZ. DR. RUTH CARTER, PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 14TH, RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY AND LEADING AFRICAN-AMERICAN ORTHODONTIST. SO, ON BEHALF OF SUPERVISOR YVONNE BURKE, I'LL MOVE AND SECONDED BY KNABE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. ZEV, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADJOURNMENT MOTIONS?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I HAVE A COUPLE. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF KATHY CARRUTH, A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF OUR DISTRICT AND THE OFFICE MANAGER FOR STATE SENATOR, RICHARD ALARCON, WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY. SHE'S SURVIVED BY HER PARENTS, ROBERT AND CLARA BUNCH, TWO DAUGHTERS, JANELLE MACINI AND KRISTEN CARRUTH, ONE SON, KENNY ROBERT CARRUTH, SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN AND A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY SHE SERVED. ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT WE ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY-- I JUST LEARNED ABOUT IT YESTERDAY, I DON'T THINK WE'VE GIVEN IT TO YOU YET, ED BROIDA PASSED AWAY AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER. ED WAS A-- ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF R&B DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS THE DEVELOPERS OF THE OAKWOOD APARTMENT CONCEPT HERE IN LOS ANGELES. HE WAS ONE OF MY ORIGINAL SUPPORTERS IN MY FIRST CAMPAIGN AND SAFE TO SAY THAT, IF IT HADN'T HAVE BEEN FOR HIS CRAZINESS, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ELECTED IN MY FIRST CAMPAIGN. HE WAS A WONDERFUL GUY, A GREAT ART LOVER, BECAME A HUGE COLLECTOR, MADE SIGNIFICANT DONATION OF ART UNFORTUNATELY TO THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK, BECAUSE HE MOVED TO NEW YORK AND THEN TO FLORIDA. ED IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, GISELLE AND FOUR CHILDREN, ALL GROWN AND SUCCESSFUL HERE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA. ALSO, I DON'T THINK WE ADJOURNED IN HER MEMORY LAST WEEK BUT I WANT TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MAGGIE DIXON. MAGGIE WAS THE HEAD BASKETBALL COACH FOR THE ARMY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF 28, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SHORTLY AFTER SHE TOOK THE ARMY BASKETBALL TEAM TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, HAVING WON THEIR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. SHE WAS-- SHE IS THE SISTER-- SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER BROTHER, JAMIE DIXON, WHO IS THE HEAD COACH OF THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AND IS SURVIVED BY HER SISTER, JULIE, HER PARENTS, JIM AND MAGGIE-- I'M SORRY, AND MARGE DIXON, JIM AND MARGE DIXON OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. MAGGIE WAS A RESIDENT-- GREW UP IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, WENT TO NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE SHE PLAYED BASKETBALL, THEN WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SHE WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS CLEARLY ON A METEORIC RISE IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHING, AND IT'S A GREAT LOSS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BASKETBALL. ASK THAT WE ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY AND I'LL GET YOU THE INFORMATION ON BOTH OF THEM.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. SUPERVISOR KNABE.
SUP. KNABE: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. TODAY, I'D MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF GLORIA METCALF, WHO PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 9TH AFTER A LENGTHY ILLNESSES. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ST. CORNELIA'S PARISH IN LONG BEACH AND ENJOYED PLAYING HER WEEKLY BINGO GAMES. SHE WAS A GREAT GAL AND GLORIA WAS A DEVOTED AND LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WHO ENJOYED SPENDING TIME WITH HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SHE WILL BE MISSED. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER FOUR CHILDREN, JOHN, DON, PAULA AND GINA, EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN AND NINE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. ALSO THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MR. JOE NISTA, PASSED AWAY THIS PAST WEEK. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY HIS FAMILY. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS DAUGHTER, SANDY AND A SON, TOM. ALSO THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF LYNN KOOIMAN, WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND, BILL, DAUGHTER, DONNA, SON, TAYLOR, AND SISTER, RHONDA. ALSO THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF HARLAN MILLER, JR., A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. HE WAS IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS, WAS A PARTNER IN THE MILLER INSURANCE COMPANY. HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS OF AMERICA, VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE KIWANIS OF LONG BEACH. VOLUNTEERED AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, LONG BEACH MEMORIAL AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS OVER THE YEARS. HE WAS A LOVING FATHER AND GRANDFATHER AND WILL BE TRULY MISSED. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 55 YEARS, PHYLLIS, HIS CHILDREN, MIKE, MARK, AND MELINDA AND HIS FOUR GRANDCHILDREN. ALSO-- WELL, WE HAD ALREADY MENTIONED IT BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL, A GREAT GUY AND THAT'S MR. WINSTON, PASSED AWAY, WHO WAS JUST DOWN HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE ENJOYED HIS VISITS HERE. WE ENJOYED HIS VISITS AT THE MTA AND HE'LL BE SORELY MISSED. THOSE ARE MY ADJOURNMENTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF DEPUTY ARNULF VON VELASCO, RETIRED LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF, PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 9TH. AND THE HONORABLE JAMES NATOLI, RETIRED MEMBER OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT. AND A GOOD FRIEND, MILTON BROCK, JR., WHO PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 30TH AT THE AGE OF 90. SOME OF THE MILT BROCK'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE HE WAS THE BUILDER OF THE AUDITORIUM AT THE CAL TECH CAMPUS, THE BARRINGTON PLAZA, THE GLENDALE GALLERIA, AMONG MANY OTHERS. HE WAS ALSO AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE NORTH HOLLYWOOD-- I SHOULD SAY HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHERE HE SERVED AS AN ELDER. HE RECEIVED THE LOS ANGELES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN '78 AND WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE CALIFORNIA'S BUILDING INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME IN '92. HE WAS A VERY QUALITY PERSON, VERY SENSITIVE, VERY DEDICATED TO THE LORD AND HIS LIFE REFLECTED THAT THROUGH HIS VARIOUS INVOLVEMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS. PATRICIA SHIPLEY COLLINS OF THE ANTELOPE VALLEY, LONG-TIME RESIDENT, BUSINESS OWNER INVOLVED WITH ANIMALS. HER-- SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND, JAMES, AND WILLIAM SHIPLEY AND DAUGHTERS, GIDGET PETTY. ROBERTA GILLIS, BETTER KNOWN AS-- NOW AS ONE OF THE GREAT LEADERS ON THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. SHE LOST MUCH OF HER CHILDHOOD TO POVERTY ORPHANAGES AND POLITICAL TURMOIL IN THE WORLD WAR II DISASTERS WITH-- UNDER NAZISM AND THEN UNDER COMMUNISM IN CROATIA. AFTER BEING IMPRISONED FOR ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE CROATIA IN THE '50S, SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SUCCEED AND DISCOVERED HER BOLD SPIRIT IN HUMANITY, HUMANITY COULD FLOURISH IN AMERICA, WHERE SHE RENAMED HERSELF ROBERTA. HER BIRTH NAME WAS BELISKA. AND MUCH OF ROBERTA'S LIFE WAS SPENT OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AND PERSONAL DISAPPOINTMENTS, ALTHOUGH IN UNABASHED INVOLVED IN COMMUNITIES-- IN OUR COMMUNITY, SHE WAS GREATLY WELL RESPECTED AND HER HUSBAND SERVES ON THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF VISITING WITH HER AT THE NEWSPAPER'S "PERSON OF THE YEAR" AWARD JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND SHE WAS A VERY SPIRITED INDIVIDUAL. SO WE ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY. ALSO ROBERT MERRY, A LONG-TIME PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GLENDALE COORDINATING COUNCIL, ACTIVE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SALVADOR MONTENEGRO, A GOOD FRIEND, FORMER LOS ANGELES CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER, WHO RESIGNED IN PROTEST OF THE CONTROVERSIAL EULA LOVE RULING AND WAS ACCUSED BY THE BOARD FOR NOT BEING SYMPATHETIC TO THE POLICE OFFICER ON THE STREET. HE WAS 82 YEARS OLD. HE WAS APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN AS A DIRECTOR OF SELECTIVE SERVICE, ALSO SERVED WITH GOVERNOR GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, WHERE HE SERVED IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND WAS ALSO ACTIVE IN THE LATINO PEACE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION. AND HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, RAQUEL, AND HIS TWO BROTHERS, DAVID AND JOSE.
SUP. MOLINA: MAY I JOIN ON THAT ONE?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES. AND HELEN-- AND SUPERVISOR MOLINA AS WELL. AND HELEN PARAGON, WHO WAS VALLEY IN THE SANTA CLARITA-- THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, MEMBER OF THE SAN MARINO COMMUNITY CHURCH AND ACTIVE IN SCOUTING. SHE ORGANIZED AND GOT A COMMUNITY AWARD FOR THE GIRL SCOUTS CHURCH OUTREACH LEADER, TAUGHT QUILTING, CAKE DECORATING AND MORE. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND, GRADY, AND DAUGHTER, SHARON, AND SON, MARK VOSS. SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE ADJOURNMENTS? LET ME-- IF WE COULD-- IF WE COULD CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 7-- LET ME CALL UP 77. THERE'S JUST SIX PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP ON THAT ITEM, I BELIEVE.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: MR. MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, MAY I PLEASE ASK ALL THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO PLAN TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE BOARD ON ITEMS 76, 77 OR 78 TO PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN IN. [ ADMINISTERING OATH ]
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. JERRY GALIPEAN, DOUG BURR, JODI BURKS AND THOMAS DUEBBER. COULD WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT COME UP AS WELL?
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: MR. MAYOR, MAY I ALSO READ ITEM 77. THIS IS A COMBINED HEARING ON ZONE CHANGE AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, CASE NUMBER 03-147-5, TO AUTHORIZE A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE A DEPARTMENT STORE, EXISTING RESTAURANT WITH THE SALE OF A FULL LINE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND A NEW RESTAURANT WITH THE SALE OF A FULL LINE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR ON-SITE CONSUMPTION FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS KOHL'S COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHICH CONSISTS OF 8.13 ACRES LOCATED ON ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD BETWEEN HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND FAIRVIEW AVENUE, EAST PASADENA AND SOUTH SANTA ANITA, TEMPLE CITY ZONE DISTRICT, PETITIONED BY J. FOLEY ENTERPRISES AND WALLIS M. CLEARMAN TRUST. WE HAVE WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE THAT WAS PRESENTED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. JUST GIVE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
JERRY GALIPEAN: JERRY GALIPEAN.
DOUG BURR: DOUG BURR.
THOMAS DUEBBER: THOMAS DUEBBER.
JERRY GALIPEAN: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JERRY GALIPEAN AND I AM THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF J. FOLEY ENTERPRISES AS WELL AS CLEARMAN'S RESTAURANTS. I'M THE APPLICANT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE FOR THE CORNER OF HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE SITE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOVE THE MICROPHONE OVER.
JERRY GALIPEAN: A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE SITE. THIS HAS BEEN OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CLEARMAN FAMILY SINCE THE 1950'S. WE PRESENTLY HAVE THREE OPERATING RESTAURANTS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE 1960'S, AS WELL AS 11 OR 12 WHAT I CALL SPECIALTY SHOPS, AS WELL AS A DRY CLEANERS AND A DENTAL BUILDING. THESE-- MOST OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE-- WE ARE A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED ORGANIZATION AND THEY'RE BEST EXEMPLIFIED BY THE DECOR AND THE ARCHITECTURE OF OUR RESTAURANTS. I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS BUT NORTHWOODS INN IS A 15,000-SQUARE-FOOT LOG CABIN BUILDING WITH A WHITE STUCCO ROOF. SO IT PRETTY WELL STANDS OUT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE GALLEY, WHICH IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "THE BOAT," WHICH HARBORS A 100-YEAR OLD MAIL BOAT ON THE SITE, SO WE ARE WELL REPRESENTED IN TRADITION AND FAMILY-ORIENTED THEMES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROPERTY STILL REMAINS UNCHANGED TODAY AS IT WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1950'S AND '60'S. MY ASSOCIATION WITH THE CLEARMANS DATES WAY BACK. MY FATHER STARTED THE NORTHWOOD'S INN RESTAURANT WITH JOHN CLEARMAN BACK IN THE '50S AND WE'VE ENJOYED A LONG PARTNERSHIP OVER THE YEARS TO DATE. WALLIS CLEARMAN DIED SUDDENLY IN 1999 AND I WAS ASKED, ALONG WITH THE TRUSTEES OF HIS TRUST, TO HELP IN THE OPERATION OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE FIRST THING THAT WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION OF WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOME REDEVELOPMENT ON THIS PROPERTY. THIS PROPERTY WAS QUITE UNDERUTILIZED. WE HAVE SEEN DECREASING SALES AND CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS WITH THE NORTHWOODS RESTAURANT, WELL, SIMILAR NORTHWOODS RESTAURANTS WITH THE SIMILAR SIZE HAD EXPERIENCING GROWING SALES DUE TO THE LOCATIONS IN CITIES THAT HAD DONE SOME COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION ALONG THE CORRIDORS THAT THEY WERE LOCATED ON. WE ALSO REALIZED THAT THE GALLEY RESTAURANT HAD TO BE REBUILT. IT WAS OLD AND AGING. THE BUILDING NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. IT WAS A LITTLE TOO SMALL FOR THE PEAK DEMAND PERIODS THAT WE WOULD EXPERIENCE ON THE WEEKENDS. WE WERE HOPING TO-- WE QUITE OFTEN CATER TO SMALL GROUPS AND EVEN THE LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS FOR POST-GAME CELEBRATIONS AND WE JUST DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEMAND ON THOSE TIMES. IT ALSO NEEDED TO HAVE ITS OWN KITCHEN. SINCE THE KITCHEN WASN'T AVAILABLE, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO USE AN EXISTING 10,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING TO FACILITATE THE KITCHEN NEEDS. ALSO, THE EXISTING SPECIALTY SHOPS WERE NOT ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL TENANTS. THEY CONSISTED OF A BEAD STORE, A GUN STORE, CRAFTS, DENTAL BUILDINGS. THEY ALSO BECAME TOO SMALL AND RUNDOWN. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE SHOPS NEVER REALLY HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO THE SALES FOR EITHER RESTAURANT NOR DID THEY ENHANCE THE SALES FOR THESE RESTAURANTS. WE'VE HAD A LONG TRADITION AT THIS SITE, SOME 50 YEARS, AND WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY COULD WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOCATE THESE RESTAURANTS SOME DAY. WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE SITE, PROVIDING CERTAIN UPGRADES AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. WE NEED A GOOD SYNERGY BETWEEN THE RESTAURANTS AND SOME TYPE OF CO-TENANT TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE CLEARMAN'S BEING A LANDMARK ON THE PROPERTY AND AS WELL AS FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE CONSIDERED MANY POSSIBLE TENANTS, GROCERY STORES, DRUG STORES, SMALL SPECIALTY FOOD STORES BUT WE NEVER REALLY FOUND ANY GOOD REAL MIX UNTIL WE WERE TALKING WITH THE KOHL'S PEOPLE. THE KOHL'S ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A STRONG RETAIL EXPERIENCE, THEY ARE FINANCIALLY SOUND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVE DIVERSE PEAK HOURS THAN THOSE OF THE RESTAURANTS TO HANDLE THE TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THE RESTAURANT. OUR PEAK PERIODS ARE FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY EVENINGS AND MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHTS WHERE THE KOHL'S PEAK PERIODS ARE MAINLY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS FOR SALE PERIODS WHEN OUR LOT IS PRETTY MUCH EMPTY. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY ALSO, THIS WAS A LONG-TERM STABLE TENANT FOR US. WE CONSIDER THIS A PERFECT COMBINATION OF RETAIL AND RESTAURANT THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND ESSENTIAL FOR MOST COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS. IT ALSO ENSURES THE LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUED SUCCESS AND VIABILITY OF THE CLEARMAN TRADITION AND ALSO WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO PROTECT THE EXISTING JOBS OF SOME 150 EMPLOYEES ON THE SITE, SOME OF WHICH THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR 30 YEARS OR LONGER AND ALSO ADD ANOTHER 150 JOBS TO THE-- FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE KOHL'S STORE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS FOR US. WE'VE HAD 18 MONTHS OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, PROBABLY THREE YEARS OF-- DOZENS AND DOZENS OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND WE HAVE REALLY RESHAPED THIS WHOLE PROPOSAL IN MANY WAYS. WE HAVE REDUCED THE ORIGINAL KOHL'S PROPOSAL FROM A 98,000-SQUARE-FOOT, ONE-STORY BUILDING TO AN 88,000 TWO STORY SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, MOVING THE BUILDING FARTHER AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY LINE. WE ARE OFFERING $1.5 MILLION IN OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, DOUBLE LEFT HAND TURN LANES ON ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE CUING TIME THROUGH THIS INTERSECTION. WE WILL PUT IN A GATE ON FAIRVIEW AVENUE, CLOSING EXITING TRAFFIC AT 9:00 P.M. TO ENSURE THE PRIVACY OF FAIRVIEW AVENUE. WE HAVE ALSO $300,000 TO IT IN A COMMUNITY FUND FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE TRAFFIC MITIGATIONS OR JUST COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS. WE HAVE TRAFFIC MONITORING ON-- THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WITH $150,000 OF FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC MITIGATIONS IF INCREASED TRAFFIC COUNTS ARE EXPERIENCED, AND WE OFFER LANDSCAPING ON BOTH ROSEMEAD AND HUNTINGTON DRIVE. WE FEEL THIS WILL NOT ONLY REENERGIZE THIS SITE BUT WILL ALSO ACT AS A CATALYST TO ENCOURAGE EXISTING COMMERCIAL SITES TO DO THE SAME ALONG ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD. I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
DOUG BURR: HI, MY NAME IS DOUG BURR. I'M WITH KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORE. I THOUGHT I'D TELL YOU JUST SOME QUICK BACKGROUND ON OUR COMPANY. WE'RE BASED OUT OF MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN, WHICH IS A SUBURB OF MILWAUKEE. WE OPENED OUR FIRST KOHL'S STORE IN 1962 AND, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, 2006, WE'LL HAVE 817 STORES NATIONWIDE. THE END OF THIS YEAR IN GREATER L.A., WE'LL HAVE 39 STORES TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITIES. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN A STRONG FOCUS FOR US AND OUR EFFORTS TO BECOME A LEADING NEIGHBORHOOD STORE FOR CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS, WHICH GETS US VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SAN GABRIEL LOCATION. AS JERRY HAD MENTIONED, OUR STORE WILL EMPLOY APPROXIMATELY 150 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE VERY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED, AND, AS PART OF THAT, WE ESTABLISHED WHAT WE CALL THE KCK PROGRAM, WHICH IS "KOHL'S CARES FOR KIDS". THE PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED TO ENHANCE HEALTH AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE SERVING. SOME OF THE THEMES UNDER THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE CHILDREN'S-- INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUTHS THAT VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITIES. WE ENCOURAGE AND INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITIES AND TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME. WE HAVE SEVERAL FUNDRAISING PROGRAMS THAT WE DO, ONE IN PARTICULAR, JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FUND. THAT PARTICULAR FUND HAS RAISED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS SINCE 1998. IN 2005, COLLECTIVELY, THROUGH KCK PROGRAM, KOHL'S WILL HAVE CONTRIBUTED NEARLY $20 MILLION. WE ARE ALSO THE OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT STORE OF U.S. YOUTH SOCCER AND, AS PART OF THAT, OFFER VARIOUS PROGRAMS FOR THE LOCAL SOCCER COMMUNITIES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IN HELPING US DEVELOP A STORE THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF AND THAT WE HOPE THE COMMUNITY WILL BE VERY PROUD OF. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES, SIR.
TOM DUEBBER: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TOM DUEBBER, I'M A LOCAL RESIDENT OF THE AREA AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING KOHL'S AND CLEARMAN'S VILLAGE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND LOVE THE FACT THAT IT'S A FAMILY-RUN ORGANIZATION AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR THE FAMILY TO GATHER AND BE PRESENT. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE IMPROVEMENT THAT I BELIEVE IT WILL BRING TO THE COMMUNITY AND PERHAPS SPUR SOME OTHER INTERESTS ALONG ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND JUST BASICALLY IT WAS BRIEF AND WE THINK THIS PROJECT SHOULD CONTINUE ON AND MAKE SOME GREAT HEADWAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. JODI? [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME ALSO CALL UP THOMAS FEE, JOHN ANNAS AND KARIN SHNORHAVORIAN.
JODI BURKS: MY NAME IS...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOVE THE MICROPHONE OVER.
JODI BURKS: MY NAME IS JODI BURKS, I RESIDE AT 9070 HUNTINGTON DRIVE IN SAN GABRIEL. I LIVE JUST OVER A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORE. I'M HERE TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: CAN WE TURN UP THE VOLUME UPSTAIRS? MAYBE GET CLOSER AS WELL.
JODI BURKS: I'M HERE TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT OF CORTILLE VERDE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, AN H.O.A. CONSISTING OF 20 CONDOS AND OVER 50 RESIDENTS. OUR H.O.A. IS IN SUPPORT OF THE KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORE AND ADDITIONAL UPGRADE PROPOSED FOR CLEARMAN'S VILLAGE. WE BELIEVE THAT KOHL'S IS THE KIND OF FAMILY-ORIENTED BUSINESS THAT WAS NEEDED IN THE AREA AND WE WELCOME THE DEPARTMENT STORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDITIONALLY, WE BELIEVE THE UPGRADED CLEARMAN'S VILLAGE WILL BE AN ATTRACTIVE AND MAY INCENTIVIZE OTHER BUSINESSES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR PROPERTY, IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY OVERALL BUT WE UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE IMPACTS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, OWNER'S EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SHARE TO US THE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT FUND. WE HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE THIS PROJECT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DOORS OF THE NEW KOHL'S OPENING SOON. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. NO APPLAUSE, PLEASE. [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES?
KARIN SHNORHAVORIAN: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KARIN SHNORHAVORIAN. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THIS CLEARMAN VILLAGE-KOHL'S PROJECT. I'VE BEEN A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF THE AREA AND HAVE MANY FOND MEMORIES OF CLEARMAN'S VILLAGE AS EARLY AS FIVE YEARS OLD. I BELIEVE THIS PROJECT WILL BE A WELCOME CHANGE, ADDING MORE PROSPERITY TO THE AREA, ADDING TO ITS VERSATILITY AND GROWTH, AND I ASK FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
THOMAS FEE: YES. I'M THOMAS FEE. I LIVE AT 8255 GARIBALDI. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 20 SOME YEARS. I'VE BEEN A CUSTOMER OF NORTHWOOD'S INN PROBABLY FOR 45 YEARS, EVEN WHEN THEY WERE ON THEIR OLD LOCATION IN MONROVIA. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR PREMISES AND IT'S-- BE A BETTER SITE WITH THE KOHL'S ON LOCATION AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS DEVELOPMENT GO FORWARD.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
THOMAS FEE: THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BEFORE YOU SPEAK, LET ME CALL UP TIM SAIVAR, GABRIEL SACKS AND SAMUEL HEINRICHS. YES, SIR.
SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK MR. JERRY GALIPEAN AND CLEARMAN'S TRUSTEES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE THE NORTHWOODS INN IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE WORKED FOR THE NORTHWOODS SINCE ABOUT 1980. I AM ALSO A LOCAL RESIDENT AND LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I MET MY WIFE AND-- THROUGH THE COMPANY, SHE ALSO WORKS FOR CLEARMAN'S GALLEY, KNOWN AS "THE BOAT." I BELIEVE THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE A VERY GOOD THING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A LOT OF NEW JOBS, THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE AREA AND ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE EXISTING JOBS THAT ARE ALREADY AT THE RESTAURANT AND I HOPE THAT YOU APPROVE THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. UH... OKAY. YES, SIR. CHAD MORGAN. OKAY. GO ON.
SAM HENNINGTON: MY NAME IS SAM HENNINGTON AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT. I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ON FAIRVIEW WHERE THERE IS A ENTRANCE/EXIT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CLOSED. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING FACING MY STREET, WHICH IS A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WHY IT'S NOT TURNED TOWARDS ROSEMEAD, WHERE THE OTHER BUSINESSES ARE AT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION, THE DIRT, THE NOISE THAT'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT. ALSO, I'VE HEARD THAT MOST OF THE PARKING LOT IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING ON FAIRVIEW DURING THE CONSTRUCTION AND AFTER THE BUSINESSES ARE OPENED. I WOULD LIKE SOME TYPE OF GREENERY, FENCING PUT UP ACROSS THE STREET SO I DON'T HAVE TO SEE THE BUILDING SITTING ACROSS THERE. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A BAR THAT IS GOING TO BE PLACED ALMOST DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT BEING PUT IN ON FAIRVIEW AND ROSEMEAD, WHICH WILL JUST BE A CUT-THROUGH FOR TRAFFIC THROUGH HUNTINGTON DRIVE DOWN THROUGH OVER INTO ARCADIA. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MAIN ENTRANCE AND EXIT ON HUNTINGTON DRIVE. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU, SIR. YOU'RE NEXT.
TIM SAIVAR: MY NAME IS TIM SAIVAR. I REPRESENT THE PROPERTY OWNER AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF HUNTINGTON AND ROSEMEAD, S & V ASSOCIATES, LLC. WE HAVE THE PROPERTY THERE, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROCESSING PLANS THROUGH THE CITY TO BUILD A 4,300 SQUARE FOOT RETAIL BUILDING. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED, THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS, L.A. COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, TO DO THE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG BOTH HUNTINGTON AND ROSEMEAD. THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE SUCH THAT WE'VE GOT, ON TRAFFIC SIGNALS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ABOUT 135 FEET OF WIDENING OF THE SIDEWALK, WHICH WILL MOVE THE CURB IN FIVE FEET ALONG ROSEMEAD, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS ALONG HUNTINGTON, ABOUT 90 FEET OF IMPROVEMENTS OF MOVING IN THE SIDEWALK THERE. THERE'S A HANDICAPPED ACCESS RAMP, TRAFFIC CONTROLS, ALSO A FIRE HYDRANT. THERE'S SOME UTILITIES ALONG THAT AREA, SIGNAGE AND A BUS STOP RELOCATION AND VARIOUS PAINTING AND STRIPING IN AND AROUND OUR PROJECT. THERE'S TREMENDOUS COST INVOLVED WITH MOVING THE STREET IN. WE'RE ESTIMATING CLOSE TO $190,000 WORTH OF WORK, WHICH IS QUITE A BURDEN FOR A PROJECT THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 4,300 SQUARE FEET, ROUGHLY AROUND $50 A SQUARE FEET. IF THERE'S A NEED TO IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION, WHICH APPARENTLY THERE IS, WE FEEL THAT KOHL'S SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN OF THAT IMPROVEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT CALTRANS IS IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF TURNING OVER ROSE PRINTS TO THE-- I'M SORRY, ROSEMEAD, TO THE COUNTY BEFORE THE COUNTY WILL ACCEPT THIS-- THE ROADWAY, CALTRANS MUST BRING THE STREET UP TO COUNTY STANDARDS, IN COMPLIANCE WITH L.A. COUNTY STANDARDS. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW THAT, WITHIN THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE ZONE CHANGE AND THE C.U.P., THAT THERE IS A $300,000 COMMUNITY FUND, AND I WOULD LIKE SOME OF THAT MONEY ALLOCATED TO OUR PROPERTY OWNER BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN THAT WE'RE ENCUMBERING FOR THIS LARGE PROJECT THAT IS INPUTTING A GREAT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL MAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION IN REVIEWING YOUR CONDITIONS IN ASSISTING US TO PROCESS OUR PROJECT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. CALL UP MANUEL GRACE AND ANDREW AHLERING. YES.
CHAD MORGAN: MY NAME IS CHAD MORGAN AND I LIVE AT 8956 EAST FAIRVIEW AVENUE, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORE THAT'S BEING PUT IN. WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE, I BOUGHT IT ACROSS THE STREET FROM LITTLE HOUSES AND A SMALL MA AND PA STORES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF AND ALL THAT'S BEING TORN DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR A LARGE RETAIL STORE THAT IS NOW GOING TO BE SEEN RIGHT OUTSIDE MY FRONT WINDOW. THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THE FRONT OF THE STORE RIGHT ON TO THIS SMALL SIDE STREET, AND THAT'S WHERE THE MAIN ACCESS TO THE BUILDING GOES INTO AND THAT'S WHERE EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE HEADING IN THROUGH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SOUTH ENTRANCE ON FAIRVIEW AVENUE CLOSED OFF AND PUT IN A SIGNIFICANT WALL, LIKE EIGHT FOOT HIGH, TO BLOCK OFF NOT ONLY TRAFFIC GOING IN AND OUT, BUT THE NOISE AND SUCH AS WELL. IF THE WALL COULD BE ARCHITECTURALLY PLEASING WITH SOME SORT OF VINE THAT WOULD GROW ON IT AND MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT NICE TO LOOK AT, THAT WOULD BE ALL THE BEST. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT'S BEING PUT IN ON FAIRVIEW. AS IT IS NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC TO AVOID THAT HUNTINGTON/ROSEMEAD INTERSECTION AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE COMING DOWN AND CUTTING THROUGH OUR LITTLE STREET TO KIND OF MAKE THEIR WAY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SAN ANITA. IF WE'RE CLOSING OFF THAT SOUTH ENTRANCE, THAT WILL THEN ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO BE THERE, WHICH WILL THEN KIND OF KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SOMEWHAT INTACT. OUR COMMUNITY IS FILLED WITH SENIORS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T MAKE A TON OF MONEY AND, FOR ME AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MY AREA, OUR HOMES ARE ONLY ASSETS, AND OUR ONLY SAVINGS AND SO, BY CREATING THIS BIG STORE WITHOUT THESE TYPES OF PROVISIONS, THAT EFFECTIVELY RUINS MY SAVINGS AND THE THINGS THAT I'VE KIND OF BUILT UP IN ORDER TO KEEP MY FAMILY SECURE. SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION CLOSING OFF THAT SOUTH ENTRANCE, PUTTING IN A WALL EIGHT FEET HIGH AND THEN MAKING IT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO KIND OF PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR STREET. ALSO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SITE, OF THE PARKING PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING TO EXIST, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT, DURING THAT TIME, THERE WOULD ONLY BE, SAY, 20 PARKING SPOTS, WHICH IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. SO THEY'RE GOING TO END UP PARKING ALONG OUR STREET AND THEY'RE ALREADY CLOGGING UP OUR STREETS AND CONGESTION AND THAT KIND OF THING, SO IF WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT, TOO, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
GABRIELLE GOAP: GOOD MORNING. I'M GABRIELLE GOAP AND I'M A RESIDENT OF CHAPMAN WOODS. I COME TO YOU ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS, 460 HOMES THAT LIVE IN A SMALL RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS. WE WANTED TO THANK THE SUPERVISORS' OFFICE, STAFF AND ALL THE SUPERVISORS PRESENT TODAY. WE WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE 460 HOMES REPRESENTED IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY, THAT THE MAJORITY VOTE IS, IS THAT THEY ARE OPPOSED TO THE BUILDING OF THE KOHL'S PROJECT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'D LIKE THE SUPERVISORS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL KOHL'S LOCATION WHERE ONE IS CONSTRUCTED OFF OF A FREEWAY WITHIN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THIS IS A SMALL RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY MADE UP OF SIDEWALKS THAT DO NOT EXIST, CURBS THAT DO NOT EXIST AND LIGHTING ON STREETS THAT DO NOT EXIST. WE WANT THE SUPERVISORS TO KNOW THAT, ALTHOUGH THE APPLICANT AND THE SUPERVISORS' OFFICE AND STAFF HAVE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND WE'VE TRIED TO REACH AS MANY AGREEMENTS AS POSSIBLE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO TELL THE SUPERVISORS TODAY IS PLEASE ALLOW US TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS, ALLOW US TO BRING OUR COMPLAINTS TO YOU IF ISSUES ARISE AND ALLOW MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES, IF NEED BE, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, IF IT'S PASSED, AND ONCE THE STORE IS OPENED, IF IT IS PASSED. COMING HERE TODAY, IT'S AN OVERWHELMING THING FOR SUPERVISORS NOT TO BE ABLE TO RELATE BUT IMAGINE IF YOU WERE TO WALK OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR, CROSS YOUR GRASS, WALK TO THE EDGE OF YOUR PROPERTY, AND THEN, 10 FEET AWAY, 20 FEET AWAY IS A HUGE DEPARTMENT STORE. WE'D ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT VISUAL AND UNDERSTAND WHY THE RESIDENTS OF FAIRVIEW, MITCHELL LINDA AND CHAPMAN WOODS ARE IN OPPOSITION. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MANUEL GRACE: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MANUEL GRACE. I LIVE IN 900 JAPAI ROAD AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE CHAPMAN WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. FOR THE RECORD, THE CHAPMAN WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED TO THE KOHL'S DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT FROM THE START, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF INCONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, TRAFFIC IMPACTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND PROPOSED IMPACTS BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. WE ALSO FEEL THAT THE REGIONAL BIG BOX DEVELOPMENT OF THE KOHL'S STORE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THIS IS A GROUP OF HOMEOWNERS, 460 HOMEOWNERS, WHO HAVE BEEN POLITICALLY INVOLVED AND POLITICALLY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. WE'VE HIRED OUR OWN LAND USE ATTORNEYS, WE'VE HIRED OUR OWN TRAFFIC CONSULTANT, WE HAVE DILIGENTLY LOOKED AT THE MITIGATION PLAN AND THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. WE HAVE ATTENDED ALL THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS. WE'VE MET WITH OUR SUPERVISOR'S STAFF AND WE CONCEDE THAT, AT THIS POINT, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE APPROVED. HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO KNOW THAT OUR ORGANIZATION STILL REMAINS POLITICALLY ENGAGED AND AWARE AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROPOSED-- THE IMPACTS THAT WILL BE GENERATED BY THE KOHL'S PROJECT AND IF, INDEED, AS WE HAVE ALWAYS TESTIFIED THROUGH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS, THAT THERE WILL BE CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF THE ALREADY INCREASED TRAFFIC ON HUNTINGTON BOULEVARD AND ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD AND THE DEGRADATION OF THE SERVICE OF USE OF THAT INTERSECTION, THAT WE WILL BE BACK HERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ASKING FOR RELIEF IN THE FORM OF MITIGATION MEASURES, TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES AND WE WILL ALSO BE VERY INTERESTED IN ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT WE'D LIKE TO THANK KEN SALE AND THE STAFF OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR WORKING WITH US, WE'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR MIKE ANTONOVICH AND HIS STAFF, PARTICULARLY PAUL NOVAK AND WE WOULD LIKE TO LET THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS KNOW THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE SMALL COMMUNITY THAT IS STILL RAILING AGAINST THE BIG BOX DEVELOPMENTS BUT WE ARE HERE WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. ANDREW?
ANDREW AHLERING: YES. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANDREW AHLERING. I AM WITH THE PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. I AM ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR THIS DISHONORABLE BOARD FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT. I HAVE HERE IN MY HANDS A GIFT, IF THE BAILIFF COULD PLEASE GIVE THIS TO THE FIRST DISTRICT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THE VALUE OF THIS, THERE IS NO VALUE ASSIGNED TO IT, THEREFORE THE FIRST DISTRICT IS ALLOWED TO ACCEPT THIS. IT IS A FREE GIFT. WHAT I JUST PRESENTED TO THE FIRST DISTRICT IS A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. I BELIEVE IN OPEN SPACE AND C.E.Q.A. IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT LAW IN CALIFORNIA. CLEAN WATER IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND, IN MY ROLE AS A EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, I WORK IN CLEAN WATER. AND I CAN TELL YOU, ANY TIME THERE'S MAJOR DEVELOPMENT, OUR STORM WATER QUALITY IS DEGRADATED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED IN THE C.E.Q.A. ALSO, BACK TO THE FLOWERS. I AM IN OPEN SPACE AND FLOWERS. I'M ALSO PRESENTING THESE FLOWERS TO THE FIRST DISTRICT AS A GIFT. FIRST DISTRICT, WELCOME BACK FROM YOUR VACATION. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD TAKE A LONGER YOUR VACATION AND, AFTER JUNE 6TH, MAYBE YOU WILL BE. PRIOR TO COMING INTO THIS ROOM, I WAS TOLD BY A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY STAFF, I BELIEVE HE WORKS WITH COUNTY COUNSEL, HE WAS PRETENDING TO BE A CITIZEN, THAT I AM WASTING THE COUNTY'S TIME. THE GOVERNMENT, BACK HERE BEHIND ME, YOU GUYS ARE THE GOVERNMENT, YOU GUYS ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES. GOVERNMENT, I PUT FORTH TO YOU THAT WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME WITH THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE DO NOT NEED MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WE NEED CHANGE. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DEMAND CHANGE. [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
ANDREW AHLERING: THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKE. PLEASE HEAR THEM AND I HAVE ONE LAST MESSAGE, FIRST TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THEN I WILL SHOW IT TO THE REPRESENTATIVES. THERE'S NO OFFENSE IN THIS T-SHIRT. THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM. [ LAUGHTER ] AS I SAID, THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM. IN HONOR OF EASTER, I ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO FORGIVE THIS BOARD. THAT IS WHAT THE T-SHIRT SAYS, PLEASE FORGIVE THIS BOARD FOR VIOLATING OUR CONSTITUTION. THANK YOU. [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME ASK THE DEPARTMENT, HOW MANY TIMES DID THIS PROPOSAL GO THROUGH REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION?
SPEAKER: THERE WERE FOUR HEARINGS AND THEN THE FINAL CONSENT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND WERE THERE EXTENSIVE TESTIMONY ON THIS?
SPEAKER: THERE WAS. IN JANUARY 19, MARCH 9, THERE WASN'T BECAUSE THAT WAS A CONTINUATION. JULY 20 THERE WAS AND SEPTEMBER 28TH, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE TESTIMONY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND HOW DID THE COMMISSION VOTE ON THIS?
SPEAKER: THEY VOTED 4-0, ONE WAS ABSENT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND THE ISSUE THAT WAS RAISED ON C.E.Q.A., WHAT WAS THE PROCESS AND THE REPORT ON THAT?
SPEAKER: OKAY. THE ANALYSIS ON C.E.Q.A., BASICALLY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, ANY STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONDITION REGARDING CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONAL NOISE WERE PREPARED FOR THE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION FOR ADOPTION AND THE PROJECT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE NO OTHER UNMITIGATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN, MR. SAIVAR'S PROPERTY THAT HE MENTIONED, WILL THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS PROVIDE ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY TO COORDINATE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AT MR. SAIVAR'S PROPERTY?
WILLIAM WINTER: IF I CAN ANSWER THAT, SUPERVISOR. I'M WILLIAM WINTER WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MR. SAIVAR AND, YES, THE KOHL'S CONDITIONS DO PROVIDE ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY TO WORK OUT HIS CONCERNS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE FAIRVIEW RESIDENTS, THE PROPOSALS THAT I SUGGESTED BE ADDED, WOULD THAT ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS?
WILLIAM WINTER: I BELIEVE SO, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DRIVEWAY QUESTIONS, DID IT COME UP IN TESTIMONY REGARDING THE FAIRVIEW DRIVEWAY? YES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, RESIDENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY HAD APPROACHED OUR OFFICE CONSIDERING THIS PROPOSED PROJECT AND MY STAFF ARRANGED SEVERAL MEETINGS BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND THE COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS THOSE VARIOUS CONCERNS AND, BASED UPON THOSE MEETINGS AND SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS, I AM TO DIRECT THE APPLICANT TO CONFORM TO THE EAST PASADENA COMMUNITY STANDARDS DISTRICT AND TO ELIMINATE THE HEIGHT OF THE STORE FROM TWO STORIES TO ONE STORY AND TO RELOCATE THE BUILDING TO THE NORTHERN END OF THE PROPERTY, TO REDESIGN THE BUILDING TO INCLUDE ARCHITECTURAL TREATMENTS ON THE SIDE FACING HUNTINGTON DRIVE, TO INCREASE THE VARIETY OF TREES AND SHRUBS FRONTING THE ADJOINING STREETS AND THE PARKING AREAS, TO REORIENT THE KOHL'S SIGNAGE TO EMPHASIZE THE ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD FRONTAGE RATHER THAN THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING FACING FAIRVIEW AVENUE, TO RELOCATE THE LOADING DOCK, TO MINIMIZE THE DELIVERY HOURS TO REDUCE NOISE AND IMPACTS UPON SURROUNDING RESIDENTS, AND TO RESTRICT STORE OPENINGS TO NO EARLIER THAN 7:00 A.M. RATHER THAN THE 5:30 A.M. WHICH HAD BEEN PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT, AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE APPLICANT INSTALL DUE LEFT TURN LANES ON NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD AND TO INSTALL A DECELERATION LANE ALONG SOUTH ROSEMEAD, SOUTHBOUND ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD, TO REQUIRE THE APPLICANT TO CONDUCT QUARTERLY MONITORING AT SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS AND TO SECURE PAYMENTS IN EXCESS OF $400,000 TO BE PAID PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF ANY BUILDING PERMITS FOR FUTURE TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS. ON FAIRVIEW AVENUE BORDERS, THE PROJECT TO THE SOUTH, THIS STREET PROVIDES ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS LIVING ON FAIRVIEW AND OTHER STREETS WEST AND SOUTH OF THE KOHL'S SITE. THESE RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED, AS THEY OUGHT TO BE, THAT CARS LEAVING THE PROPERTY WOULD DRIVE THROUGH THEIR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THIS CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC IS TO ELIMINATE THE DRIVEWAY FROM THE PROJECT SITE TO FAIRVIEW AVENUE. ELIMINATING THIS DRIVEWAY REDIRECTS PROJECT-RELATED TRAFFIC TO HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD AND THE TWO ROADWAYS BETTER SUITED TO HANDLE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC. TO PREVENT NOISE AND GLARE IMPACTS FROM THE VEHICLES, A BLOCK WALL SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED AND THE APPLICANT SHOULD LANDSCAPE THAT AREA IN FRONT OF THE WALL. RESIDENTS OF THE FAIRVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD, CHAPMAN WOODS AND MITCHELL INDA PARK ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY FOR COMING UP SOLUTIONS TO THESE OUTSTANDING ISSUES WITH THE APPLICANT. THEY HAVE VOLUNTEERED COUNTLESS HOURS IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE PROJECT AND PROTECT NEARBY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WORK AND THEIR COMMITMENT. THE PROJECT, AS WE KNOW, PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY 150 JOBS AND PRESERVES AN EXISTING 150 JOBS AT THE RESTAURANTS AND THE PROJECT FILE HAS INDICATED THAT MORE THAN 1,000 LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE WRITTEN IN SUPPORT, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN LETTERS ALSO IN OPPOSITION. THE PROJECT APPROVED BY THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION INCLUDES OTHER ADDITIONS WHICH ADDRESS AESTHETICS, TRAFFIC, AND TRAFFIC MONITORING AND THE HOURS OF OPERATION, DESIGN, PARKING, CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER POTENTIAL IMPACTS. BEYOND THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION TO ADDRESS REMAINING NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS, ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE PROJECT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE REPLACING CONDITION 25 TO REQUIRE THAT THE APPLICANT POST A BOND PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A FUTURE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT FAIRVIEW AND ROSEMEAD INTERSECTION, THE AMOUNT OF THE BOND AND THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE BOND SHALL PREVAIL IN EFFECT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE APPLICANT SHALL MONITOR TRAFFIC IMPACTS AT THE INTERSECTION TO BE REVIEWED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CALTRANS AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER AND WHEN THAT SIGNAL WILL BE INSTALLED. WE WILL MODIFY CONDITION 29 H-1 WHICH REQUIRES THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE $100,000 FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS, DELETE CONDITION 30, WHICH ELIMINATES THE PROPOSED FAIR AVENUE DRIVEWAY ALONG WITH DELETING CONDITION 40-D. ADD A CONDITION REQUIRING THAT THE APPLICANT WILL INSTALL A SIX-FOOT MASONRY WALL ALONG THE SOUTHERLY BOUNDARY OF THE PROJECT ADJACENT TO FAIRVIEW AVENUE, ADDING A CONDITION REQUIRING THE APPLICANT TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING, INCLUDING A COMBINATION OF SHRUBS AND TREES OF VARYING SIZES BETWEEN THE MASONRY WALL AND THE FAIRVIEW AVENUE RIGHT OF WAY INCORPORATED IN THE LANDSCAPE PLAN IDENTIFIED IN CONDITION 33. ADDING A CONDITION THAT WILL REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE STORE FROM 88,407 SQUARE FEET TO 80,000 SQUARE FEET AND THE REVISIONS WOULD MITIGATE THE PROJECT IMPACTS. THESE REVISIONS ELIMINATE THE PROJECT IMPACTS BEYOND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION, SO WE'D MOVE THAT WE'D CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, INDICATING THAT WE HAVE READ AND CONSIDERED THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, OUR INTENT TO APPROVE THE PROJECT WITH THE MODIFIED CONDITIONS DISCUSSED ABOVE AND ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES REQUIRED FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES AND DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION AND FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS AND ZONE CHANGE ORDINANCE FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. I WANT TO THANK BOTH-- ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING AND FOR MAKING SUGGESTIONS FOR THESE ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS. THANK YOU. SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 76. [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ITEM NUMBER 77-- 76. [ APPLAUSE ]
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ITEM 76 IS A HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY CODE, TITLE 10, ANIMALS, TO REQUIRE THAT ALL DOGS BE IMPLANTED WITH AN IDENTIFYING MICROCHIP, TO ESTABLISH A MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM FOR ALL DOGS, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE FOR UNALTERED AND ALTERED DOGS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE WE GET ON TO THIS ITEM, THERE WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS APPROVED, I BELIEVE ON CONSENT AND THERE ARE I THINK FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WHO WERE STUCK IN THE LINE. IT WAS ON THE...
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: ITEM 63.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ITEM 63 ON THE VOTING MACHINES. COULD WE GIVE THEM A MINUTE EACH AND THEN THEY CAN LEAVE? BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME, SO I WOULD MOVE RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM 63.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY, SECONDED, WITHOUT OBJECTION TO RECONSIDER 63 AND WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE TO CALL UP. LET ME CALL JUDY ALTAR, MIMI KENNEDY, MICHAEL JAY, JULIE GROWMAN. FOUR PEOPLE. IS JUDY ALTAR, MIMI KENNEDY, MICHAEL JAY, JULIETTE GORMAN? HERE COMES-- IS THIS-- JUDY ALTAR? MIMI KENNEDY. OKAY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ARE THEY HERE?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ARE THEY COMING UP? I DON'T KNOW.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ARE YOU HERE ON THAT ITEM? OKAY. HERE THEY COME.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BEFORE YOU SPEAK, JUST GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN YOUR TESTIMONY.
JUDY ALTER: I'M JUDY ALTER. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE VOTE-- THE INKAVOTE PLUS CHOICE BY THE ELECTIONS PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE IT'S AN ES & S PRODUCT. THE ES & S HAS DISAPPOINTED DESPERATELY THE INDIANA...
SUP. MOLINA: EXCUSE ME JUST A MINUTE. EXCUSE ME. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: COULD WE HAVE IT QUIETER ON THE SIDE? THE STAFF, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK, TALK OUTSIDE THE ROOM. THANK YOU, MS. MOLINA. GO AHEAD, MISS ALTER.
JUDY ALTER: DO I START AGAIN?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: NO. JUST PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.
JUDY ALTER: ES & S HAS NOT SUPPLIED ADEQUATE MACHINERY FOR PENNSYLVANIA. THEY'RE SUING THEM. THEY HAVEN'T PROVIDED THE SMART CARDS FOR THEIR PRECINCT SCANNERS IN INDIANA IN EARLY VOTING AND THE BOARDS ARE NOT WANTING TO EVEN TO-- ELECTION BOARDS AREN'T EVEN WANTING TO PAY THEM. THEY ARE BEHIND IN THEIR SUPPLIES AND THEY HAVE NO QUALITY CONTROL. THEY TURNED IN A HUNDRED CARDS THAT DON'T WORK AND THEN THEY SENT THEM BACK AND NEW ONES AND 40% DIDN'T WORK. ES & S IS A VERY BAD RISK FOR US IN L.A. COUNTY TO TAKE ON. THEY'RE CO-OWNED BY THEIR BROTHER, DIEBOLD. THE ES & S TESTING IS INCOMPLETE FOR THAT PRECINCT SCANNER. IT HAS FAILED-- IT'S NOT SEALED SUFFICIENTLY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PUT THEIR CARDS IN ON THE SIDES AND IT ALSO DOESN'T ALLOW-- IT DOESN'T PROTECT THE VOTER FROM SENDING THEIR BALLOT THROUGH THE INKAVOTE BALLOT WITH THE SERIAL NUMBER ON IT. AND SO IF-- BECAUSE THE VOTER PUTS THEIR BALLOT IN BY THEMSELVES, THIS IS A POTENTIAL OF THE VOTER SECRECY BEING VIOLATED. THE TESTING IS INSUFFICIENT, IT'S NOT FINISHED, IT'S NOT CERTIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE-- SECRETARY OF STATE AND IT'S-- IT DOESN'T-- IT, AGAIN-- WE DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A PAPER TRAIL, SO IT DOESN'T EVEN VIOLATE THE BOWEN BILL, WHICH INSISTS THAT WE HAVE A PAPER TRAIL BECAUSE THE INKAVOTE, MARKED BY THE VOTER, ACTUALLY IS OUR PAPER TRAIL. IF WE USE THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM H.A.V.A., IT'S A ONE-TIME EXPENSE AND THEN, AFTER THAT, L.A. COUNTY WILL HAVE TO UPKEEP ALL OF THE PRECINCT SCANNERS, ALL OF THE SOFTWARE, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN CERTIFIED AND IT WILL BE-- IT'S LIKE A TROJAN HORSE OF HUGE MONEY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: OKAY. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, MISS ALTER. BARBARA LEVIN.
SPEAKER: NO. OH, I'M SORRY, SHE'S HERE.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR?
MICHAEL JAY: I'M MICHAEL JAY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: MICHAEL, YOU'RE UP.
MICHAEL JAY: THANK YOU.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: NOW, WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE TESTIMONY TO TWO MINUTES. YOU WERE OUT OF THE ROOM WHEN WE CALLED YOU BUT WE'RE TAKING YOU OUT OF ORDER AS A CONVENIENCE, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO LIMIT EVERYBODY TO TWO MINUTES, SO GO AHEAD.
MICHAEL JAY: THANK YOU FOR HEARING US. I TOOK THE TROUBLE TO COME HERE TODAY AND SPEAK TO YOU BECAUSE I WAS SO SURPRISED TO FIND THAT WE ARE APPROVING YET ANOTHER ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO OUR VOTING SYSTEM. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THE RECENT NEWS WHICH JUST SEES MORE AND MORE COUNTIES IN MORE AND MORE STATES, MORE AND MORE REGISTRARS DENYING NEEDING TO EVEN THROW AWAY THE PURCHASE OF VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MACHINES. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MODERATING A TALK OF MY LOCAL GRASSROOTS GROUPS IN SHERMAN OAKS, STUDIO CITY, WHERE OUR REGISTRAR, CONNY MCCORMACK, SPOKE TO US ABOUT ELECTION PROTECTION, ABOUT ELECTRONIC VOTING, ABOUT ALL OF OUR ISSUES WITH THESE TYPES OF MACHINES AND THESE SYSTEMS AND WE READ THE NEWS, SO WE HAD CONCERNS AND WE ASKED HER, AREN'T YOU CONCERNED TO HEAR THESE REPORTS OF MACHINES DENYING VOTES, ADDING MORE VOTES THAN THERE ARE VOTERS IN A PRECINCT, ET CETERA? SHE STATED THAT THESE REPORTS FROM OTHER STATES SHOULD NOT TROUBLE HER, THEY'RE NOT PART OF HER JURISDICTION, THEY'RE OUT OF THE STATE. THE FACT IS, JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT TALK LAST-- EARLY WINTER, WAS WHEN LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOUND THAT DIEBOLD'S LIES TO THE CONTRARY, THEIR MACHINES COULD BE HACKED BY A SIMPLE CORN CHIP. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS INKAVOTE PLUS SYSTEM IS THAT IT CONTAINS WIRELESS. WE ALREADY HAVE A LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT SHOWS THAT D.R.E.S ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY SYSTEM OF TELEPHONE TRANSMISSION WIRELESS COMMUNICATION. I'M SURE THAT THIS ADDITION TO THE INKAVOTE SYSTEM, INKAVOTE PLUS, QUALIFIES AS A D.R.E. IF NOT, THERE'S SHELLY'S DIRECTIVE, WHICH SAID NO SUCH MACHINE SHOULD HAVE ANY WIRELESS CAPABILITY. IF YOU THINK THAT WIRELESS SYSTEMS CAN'T BE HACKED, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE HAD TO THROW AWAY THE MONEY THEY SPENT ON MACHINES WHICH ARE NOW DECERTIFIED. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
BARBARA LEVIN: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME. MY NAME IS BARBARA LEVIN. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, WHEREVER THESE MACHINES, THESE D.R.E. MACHINES ARE USED, REGARDLESS OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT ES & S IS OWNED BY THE BROTHER OF DIEBOLD AND ALTHOUGH DIEBOLD HAS GOTTEN A BAD NAME, ES & S WILL NOT BE FAR BEHIND. ALL OF THESE D.R.E.S, ALL OF THESE WIRELESS SYSTEMS ARE HACKABLE. IT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED OVER AND OVER. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE INCIDENT IN LEON COUNTY JUST REFERRED TO INVOLVED ONLY EIGHT VOTES. IT WAS A TEST INVOLVING ONLY EIGHT VOTES AND ONE OF THOSE VOTES WAS FLIPPED AND HACKED AND, IF ONE OUT OF EIGHT VOTES CAN BE CHANGED, THAT COULD PROVE DIRE FOR OUR ELECTION SYSTEM. YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT, IN A DEMOCRACY, THE ELECTION SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT METHODS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE RETAIN OUR DEMOCRACY. IF THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM CAN BE HACKED, OUR DEMOCRACY IS IN DANGER. THE BEST THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THESE MACHINES IS THAT THEY ARE NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE IN ORDER TO HAVE FREE, TRULY FREE ELECTIONS. OTHER DEMOCRACIES WHO HAVE USED THESE MACHINES ONLY USE THEM WHEN THERE IS OPEN SOFTWARE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW THESE MACHINES ARE PROGRAMMED AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, BEFORE WE USE THESE MACHINES, WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S OPEN SOFTWARE, WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A PAPER TRAIL, WE MAKE SURE THAT RECOUNTS MEAN SOMETHING WITH THE PAPER TRAIL AND I THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN OUR DEMOCRACY, NOT TO USE THESE MACHINES. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. KNABE: MIKE?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES. YOU'RE ON.
MIMI KENNEDY: YEAH, HI. MIMI KENNEDY. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME THIS MORNING. I'M HERE. I HOPE TO SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY AND EMBARRASSMENT. THE $45 MILLION OF H.A.V.A. FUNDS THAT WILL BE SPENT ON THIS ENHANCEMENT WILL ONLY SERVE BLIND VOTERS. IT DOES NOT EMPOWER DISABLED VOTERS, ALL OF THEM WHO COME TO THE PRECINCT. IT DOES NOT PRESERVE THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT, WHICH IS ADMITTED HERE IN CONTRAVENTION OF ELECTION CODE 103-A-2, THE SYSTEM SHALL PRESERVE THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT. THE STAFF REPORT SAID THAT IF ONE BALLOT IS VOTED USING THIS BOOTH, AT LEAST TWO MORE VOTERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO USE THE BOOTH TO VOTE AN AUDIO BALLOT AND PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE INITIAL BALLOT. SO, IN OTHER WORDS, OTHER VOTERS COMING INTO THE PRECINCT WILL BE ASKED, WOULD YOU PLEASE VOTE ON THIS SYSTEM AND THEY'LL BE PRESSURED TO DO SO IN ORDER TO PROTECT SOMEONE ELSE'S SECRECY OF THE BALLOT. IF, SAY, ONLY FOUR VOTERS AGREED TO DO THIS, THEN IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THOSE FOUR VOTERS USED THAT SYSTEM. IT IS NOT A PROTECTION OF THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT AND IT DOES NOT ALLOW OTHER DISABLED VOTERS LIKE SIP AND PUFF TO USE THE SYSTEM, SO WE'RE SPENDING $45 MILLION TO LET ES & S PROVIDE DISABILITY ACCESS THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY PROVIDE. WHERE WILL THE OTHER MONEY COME FROM? I HAVE A 44-PAGE DOCUMENT HERE ABOUT ES & S IN THE NEWS, A PARTIAL LIST OF DOCUMENTED FAILURES. THEY'RE PART OF WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE REFERRED TO. THEY'RE NOT GOOD CONTRACTORS OR THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN OTHER STATES. THEY'VE BEEN LATE WITH BALLOTS, THEY'VE BEEN LATE WITH SERVICE AND THEY HAVE AFFECTED ELECTIONS. PEOPLE HAVE REFERRED TO THE COMING ELECTION ON THESE ALL SYSTEMS AS A TRAIN WRECK. HELP AMERICA VOTE MANDATED ELECTRONIC MACHINES WHEN THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT FOUR CONTRACTORS WHO COULD REALLY GIVE US THE MACHINES THAT COMPLIED. THIS ENHANCEMENT IS NOT IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DISABLED. $45 MILLION IS GOING OUT RIGHT NOW IN ASSEMBLY, WE ARE HEARING AN OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE BILL 2097. IN A YEAR, THIS WILL BE OBSOLETE, THIS SYSTEM WILL BE OBSOLETE. $45 MILLION AND NOT SERVING ALL THE DISABLED LATER. I'LL ENTER THIS INTO THE RECORD. I WILL GIVE YOU THIS COPY. SO PLEASE DON'T SPEND THE $45 MILLION ON THIS RIGHT NOW. WE'RE A YEAR AWAY FROM THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND THE DISABLED WILL NOT ALL BE ABLE TO VOTE AND THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT IS NOT PROTECTED ON THIS SYSTEM AND IT'S NOT A GOOD CONTRACTOR. A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN OTHER COUNTIES, COST THEM MONEY, COST THEM ELECTION EFFICIENCY. THANKS. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HAVE YOU SPOKEN YET?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: HAS EVERYBODY SPOKEN? THE GENTLEMAN ON THE RIGHT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: JUST GIVE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
MARY JACOBS: MY NAME IS MARY JACOBS. DO YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK NOW?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES.
MARY JACOBS: I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS COPY OF THE SALE OF ELECTORAL POLITICS, WHICH SHOWS THAT THE DIEBOLD MACHINES, ES & S SEQUOIA, ARE ALL FUNDED HEAVILY BY REPUBLICANS AND THEY ARE ALSO FUNDED BY DEFENSE COMPANIES. THIS WAS DONE BY SONOMA UNIVERSITY. AND MANY OF YOU ON THE L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE RECEIVED THESE T-SHIRTS WHICH SHOW A MONKEY HACKING A VOTING MACHINE. HERE IT SAYS, "MONKEYS CAN HACK VOTING MACHINES. VOTE SCANNERS CAN BE RIGGED, TOO. LET'S JUST HAND COUNT PAPER BOLTS AS 80% OF DEMOCRACIES DO. DON'T MONKEY AROUND WITH MY VOTE." NOW, HERE ARE AT LEAST A THOUSAND SIGNATURES OF L.A. COUNTY AND SACRAMENTO COUNTY, MOSTLY L.A. COUNTY. THESE ARE VOTERS WHO HAVE SIGNED A PETITION CALLING TO HAVE NO DIEBOLD AND TO HAVE HAND COUNTED PAPER BALLOTS. DIEBOLD IS VERY BAD AND OUR L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISOR-- L.A. COUNTY RECORDER HAS HER PHOTOGRAPH ON IT. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I CONSIDER IT A SERIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHEN MY PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT MY NEED TO HAVE MY VOTE COUNTED HAS HER PHOTOGRAPH ON A COMPANY THAT WAS ALREADY BEING BANNED FROM CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY GAVE EXACTLY WHAT ES & S WANTS TO GIVE, THEY GAVE AN UNCERTIFIED MACHINE, AND THEY GAVE MONEY TO AN UNCERTIFIED MACHINE. MACHINES CAN BE HACKED. ANYBODY THAT'S EVER SEEN THEIR MACHINE BREAK DOWN KNOWS THAT WE CANNOT LET OUR DEMOCRACY DIE WITH DIEBOLD OR ES & S, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS OWNED BY THE BROTHER WHO OWNS DIEBOLD. IT'S ENOUGH ALREADY. THE PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE BACK THEIR ELECTIONS, THEY NEED TO SIGN THIS PETITION, THEY NEED TO BACK THE GOLD...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
MARY JACOBS: NO. I'M-- OKAY. JUST SIGN THE PETITIONING AND SAVE THE...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES, MA'AM.
JULIE GORMAN: I'LL GO? OKAY. MY NAME IS JULIE GORMAN AND I THINK THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE JOKE THAT THESE MACHINES ARE EVEN BEING DISCUSSED AND THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO PASS USING THESE MACHINES. I THINK REALLY THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS PROBABLY YOU GUYS HAVE PROBABLY COMMITTED THE HIGHEST TREASON THAT IS AVAILABLE... [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
JULIE GORMAN: ...IN ANY-- YOU GUYS HAVE COMMITTED THE HIGHEST TREASON THAT COULD BE DONE IN ANY DEMOCRACY. I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING ANY MORE AND I THINK WHOEVER VOTED FOR THIS, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW WHERE CONNY MCCORMACK IS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SHE'S HERE. SHE WILL SPEAK AFTER YOU'RE FINISHED.
JULIE GORMAN: OKAY. I THINK SHE HAS COMMITTED TREASON, WHEREVER SHE IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE SHOULD RESIGN FROM HER POSITION OR STEP DOWN, RESIGN OR YOU GUYS SHOULD VOTE HER OUT. SHE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR THESE MACHINES NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR POSITION. I DON'T CARE, YOU KNOW-- THIS IS THE HIGHEST TREASON... [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
JULIE GORMAN: ...THERE IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. I MEAN, THERE IS AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW. YOU HAVE 600 REGISTERED VOTERS. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE. 600 REGISTERED VOTERS, 300 VOTE FOR KERRY, 300 VOTE FOR BUSH, THAT TOTALS 600. THEN THERE'S AN EXTRA 100 FLOATING AROUND, YOU KNOW, AND IT COMES BACK INTO THE VOTING COUNT AND THOSE 100 EXTRA ONES END UP GOING TO BUSH, SO THEN IT'S 400-TO-300 AND THEN ABSENTEE BALLOTS, PROVISIONAL BALLOTS ARE OUT THE DOOR BECAUSE THE VOTE IS 400, 300. DOESN'T MATTER ANY MORE. THIS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND YOU GUYS ARE STILL GOING TO VOTE FOR THESE MACHINES. AND THIS IS OFF THE SUBJECT, I ALWAYS GO OFF THE SUBJECT, THE M-3, WHERE THEY ACCOUNT FOR MONEY BEING PRINTED, (LAUGHS) THAT'S GONE NOW.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
JULIE GORMAN: ALL RIGHT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.
CAROLYN FOWLER: GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS CAROLYN FOWLER, I'M ELECTION BOARD CHAIR FOR L.A. COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST GO ON RECORD WITH SUPPORTING THE PRESENTATION BY MIMI KENNEDY. I ALSO THINK, THOUGH, THAT A KEY PART OF THESE MACHINES-- I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE C.V.O.C., THE COUNTY VOTER OUTREACH COMMITTEE, WHICH I THINK IS CERTAINLY A FABULOUS ORGANIZATION AND IT DOES GIVE US A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S GOING ON BUT THE KEY THING-- I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT A YEAR AGO, EACH OF YOU, REGARDING ONE OF THE KEY ASPECTS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AND THAT IS THE TRAINING. YOU'RE ASKING FOR 20,000 POLL WORKERS. I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON THAT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING ONE OF THESE MACHINES AT EACH OF THESE FACILITIES AND, IF YOU'LL RECALL THE LAST ELECTION, OUR RESULTS WERE LATER THAN ANYONE ELSE'S IN THE STATE BECAUSE THE STUBS WERE LEFT ON TOP OF THE BALLOTS, THE STUBS THAT NORMALLY GO BACK TO THE VOTER. THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT CALIBRATING A MACHINE ON ELECTION DAY, JUNE 6TH. I THINK THERE IS A MAJOR GAP IN WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. I'M ASKING YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER AND MAKE MANDATORY TRAINING FOR COORDINATORS AND INSPECTORS ON ELECTION DAY AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALL LOOKING DOWN AND YOU'RE BEING VERY BUSY BUT I THINK WE ARE TRULY HEADING FOR A DISASTER THAT DAY. YOUR RECENT ASSISTANT COUNTY REGISTRAR THAT WAS OVER THIS AND HER STAFF PERSON JUST LEFT. I CALLED ABOUT THE TRAINING TODAY. THE TRAINING COORDINATOR HAS NOW LEFT. I THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND YOU NEED TO GET YOUR HANDS AROUND IT OR, ON ELECTION DAY, WITH THIS ALREADY, THIS CAL VOTER DATABASE PROBLEM IS GOING TO CREATE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR OUR COUNTY AND I'M TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL, CRITICAL MATTER. I DON'T KNOW IF INCREASING THE STIPEND WILL HELP, AS THEY DID IN L.A. CITY, TO GET MORE WORKERS. I'M NOT SURE OTHER THAN MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR THE TRAINING HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. THE RECENT ELECTION AT LONG BEACH, WE GOT SEVERAL CALLS AT OUR OFFICES THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO VOTE PROVISIONAL, WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE PROVISIONAL. THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS LEARNING CURVES THAT MUST OCCUR. SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS BOARD WILL GET YOUR ARMS AROUND THAT AND ENSURE THAT THAT AT LEAST HAPPENS. AND I SPOKE TO THE MACHINE ISSUE, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. I'M DONE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THAT CONCLUDES THAT. MOTION BY...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: CAN WE HAVE CONNY UP HERE?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: CONNY MCCORMACK.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SHE'S HERE AND I'D LIKE HER TO RESPOND TO THESE COMMENTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DID YOU SIGN UP?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: NO, MR. CHAIRMAN, HE DIDN'T.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. I WOULD MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HE HAD SIGNED UP.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WELL, THEN OBJECT. HE SIGNED UP?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HE HAD SIGNED UP BEFORE, YEAH.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: HE HAD SIGNED UP BEFORE WHEN? BEFORE WE APPROVED IT THE FIRST TIME? SO WE SHOULD HAVE HELD IT THE FIRST TIME? HE SIGNED UP WHEN WE RECONSIDERED IT?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. COME UP ONE MINUTE.
ANDREW AHLERING: THANK YOU, MAYOR ANTONOVICH. NO, THANK YOU SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY, WHO LAST WEEK INTERRUPTED ME WHEN I WAS SILENTLY PRESENTING TO THIS DISHONORABLE BOARD OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. ELECTIONS ARE THE MOST SACRED THING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ANY DEMOCRACY. RIGHT NOW OUR COUNTRY IS STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER OVERSEAS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T HAVE PEACE AND ORDER AT HOME. WE'RE TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE, HAVE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE MADAM CLERK RECORDER OVER HERE WHO IS ENDORSING UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGY. I DO NOT WANT ANY VOTES FROM AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM UNTIL THAT SYSTEM IS CERTIFIED. AS A CANDIDATE, I DON'T WANT ELECTRONIC VOTES. (SPEAKING SPANISH). APPROVING THIS SYSTEM WILL BE A DISASTER. IT WILL BE A DISASTER. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE DISASTERS IN THIS COUNTY. LAST YEAR, WE SPENT UPWARDS OF $100 MILLION AFTER THE FLOODING. COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I KNOW. I'M A BUDGET ANALYST. THIS SYSTEM, IF APPROVED, WILL COST THE COUNTY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LITIGATION. PLEASE VOTE "NO."
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. CONNY MCCORMACK. [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: CAN YOU RESPOND TO THE POINTS THAT WERE RAISED? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM YOU WERE ABLE TO HEAR BECAUSE YOU WERE IN TRANSIT COMING BACK BUT YOU HEARD MOST OF THE LATEST ONES, THE ISSUE OF THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND THE VIABILITY OF THIS EQUIPMENT AND WHETHER THIS IS A WASTE OF MONEY, THAT A YEAR FROM NOW IT'S ALL GOING TO GO UP IN SMOKE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HEARD OF IT BUT I'D LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT YOU HEARD AND THE ONES THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
CONNY MCCORMACK: THANK YOU, SUPERVISORS. YES. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE SYSTEM BEFORE YOU THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE PHASES OF YOUR BOARD HAS MADE DECISIONS TO MAKE VOTING SYSTEM PURCHASES IN MULTIPLE PHASES SO THAT WE WOULD TAKE STEPS AND PHASE IN VOTING EQUIPMENT. THIS IS STILL AN OPTICAL SCAN VOTING SCAN SYSTEM, IT'S NOT AN ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM, IT'S AN ENHANCEMENT TO OUR CURRENT INKAVOTE SYSTEM THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE NOVEMBER OF '03 AND COUNTED OVER 6 MILLION BALLOTS ON. ALL THE BALLOTS THAT WE'VE BEEN COUNTING ON THE INKAVOTE SYSTEM TO DATE HAVE BEEN ON A CENTRAL COMPUTERIZED COUNT FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS, SO WE HAVE BEEN USING COMPUTERS IN ELECTIONS. IT'S NOT ELECTRONIC FOR EITHER THE VOTER OR FOR THE TABULATION AND IT WILL NOT BECOME ELECTRONIC. THE VOTING PROCESS REMAINS THE SAME WITH THE NEW EQUIPMENT. IT IS INKAVOTE, THE VOTER USES THE INKAVOTE AND THEN PUTS IT INTO A PRECINCT BALLOT READER AND IT'S A READER FOR UNOFFICIAL ACCUMULATION OF RESULTS. THE OFFICIAL RESULTS WILL STILL BE ACCUMULATED CENTRALLY IN OUR OFFICE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE PROVISIONALS AND ABSENTEES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDED IN BEFORE THE END OF THE PROCESS, SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE SYSTEM. IT IS REQUIRED FOR THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT, THE FEDERAL LAW, TO HAVE TWO COMPONENTS IN EQUIPMENT STARTING THIS YEAR. ONE IS PROTECTION FOR VOTERS WHO MIGHT MAKE A MISTAKE, OVER VOTING BALLOTS. WE USUALLY HAVE ONE TO TWO PERCENT OF OUR VOTERS MAKE THOSE MISTAKES WHERE THEY VOTE FOR MORE CANDIDATES THAN ARE ALLOWED AND, THEREFORE, FOR THAT RACE, LOSE THEIR VOTES FOR THAT RACE. THIS EQUIPMENT WILL RETURN THE BALLOT IF IT'S OVER VOTED AND LET THE VOTER CHOOSE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CORRECTION. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO OVER VOTE INTENTIONALLY. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY KNEW BOTH CANDIDATES IN THE RACE AND WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO BOTH THEM, "I VOTED FOR YOU." I MEAN, WE NEVER KNOW WHY PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE, BUT THE EQUIPMENT, BY FEDERAL LAW, HAS TO ALERT THE VOTER AND THIS EQUIPMENT DOES THAT. AND THE OTHER REQUIREMENT IS FOR DISABLED VOTERS TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE A BALLOT AS NONDISABLED VOTERS AND SO THIS EQUIPMENT HAS AUDIO HEADSETS AND THE CAPABILITY OF BLIND AND OTHERWISE DISABLED INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE ON THE EQUIPMENT. IT IS ELECTION SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNISON, A COMPANY OUT OF SAN DIEGO AND IT IS NOT DIEBOLD EQUIPMENT. SO I THINK THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THESE THINGS THAT YOU PROPOSE TO PURCHASE WITH THE $45 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS, ARE THEY CERTIFIED?
CONNY MCCORMACK: THEY'RE NOT-- FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO CORRECT THE 45 MILLION. THE INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE IS 24.6 MILLION. DEPENDING ON THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND WHETHER OR NOT WE EXERCISE OPTIONS IN THE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN THE HARDWARE, IT COULD GET TO 45 MILLION. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IT GOING ANYWHERE NEAR THAT. THE INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE IS UNDER 25 MILLION. WE HAVE, IN H.A.V.A., HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT FUNDS AND STATE PROPOSITION 41 FUNDS, A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER 100, 110 MILLION POTENTIAL TO THE COUNTY. IF WE WERE TO BUY A FULLY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AT THIS JUNCTURE, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ALL THAT MONEY, SO IT'S A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE PURCHASE OF ABOUT 25% OF THE MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AT THIS POINT IN TIME ALLOWING...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: IS IT CERTIFIED?
CONNY MCCORMACK: IT WILL BE CERTIFIED. IT ISN'T FINALIZED...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WILL IT BE CERTIFIED BEFORE YOU SPEND A NICKEL?
CONNY MCCORMACK: WE CAN'T, BY STATE LAW. WE CAN'T PURCHASE A VOTING SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA UNTIL IT IS CERTIFIED. I SPOKE WITH THE UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE THIS MORNING. THE FINAL TESTING OCCURRED ON FRIDAY. THEY HAVE ANTICIPATED AND SAID THAT THE CERTIFICATION SHOULD COME THIS WEEK. IT'S JUST PAPERWORK AT THIS POINT. IT PASSED ALL THE TESTS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SO NO FUNDING WILL BE EXPENDED UNTIL THE CERTIFICATION IS OFFICIAL?
CONNY MCCORMACK: THAT'S CORRECT. THERE'S NO LEGAL WAY TO DO THAT UNTIL THE STATE HAS FINALIZED THE CERTIFICATION. IT HAS BEEN THROUGH THE FEDERAL CERTIFICATION PROCESS AS OF LAST NOVEMBER.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHERE ARE YOU, AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING ON THIS BRIEFLY, ON THE WHOLE ISSUE OF THE ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM, THE WHOLE DIEBOLD ISSUE AND THE LONG-TERM DIRECTION THAT YOU ARE TOYING WITH AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, YOUR OFFICE IS DEALING WITH?
CONNY MCCORMACK: THE PROCESS THAT STARTED-- THIS PROCESS STARTED A YEAR AGO TOMORROW. IT WAS AN R.F.P., A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THIS WAS THE PROPOSAL WE GOT. PRIOR TO ANY PURCHASE OF ANY ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT IN THE FUTURE, THERE WOULD BE A COMPLETE START FROM SCRATCH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL SHOULD THE BOARD DECIDE TO BUY AN ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM. THERE ARE FOUR THAT ARE CERTIFIED IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW. IT WOULD BE AN OPEN, COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT WOULD TAKE PROBABLY THE YEAR THAT THIS JUST TOOK TO DO THE R.F.P. AND THE CONTRACT AND BRING IT TO YOUR BOARD. SO IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN THE LINE BEFORE THAT WOULD OCCUR. THIS CONTRACT GOES THREE YEARS AND THEN HAS SIX ONE-YEAR RENEWABLES. I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER VOTING SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND MAYBE EVEN LONGER BUT, IF THAT WOULD OCCUR, IT WOULD BE A COMPLETE R.F.P. PROCESS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD ON THE ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS ISSUE THAT I HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT IT. I'VE EXPRESSED THEM THROUGH MY STAFF TO YOUR OFFICE AND I'M TRYING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. I'M NOT A COMPUTER GEEK, SO THIS IS HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE JARGON AND ALL BUT I'M UNDERSTANDING IT PRETTY CLOSELY-- PRETTY-- PRETTY THOROUGHLY NOW AND I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. THE ISSUE OF THE PAPER TRAIL IS CRITICAL. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, I WANT TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION, BUT THE LARGER ISSUE WHICH I THINK IS FUELING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND CERTAINLY IN THE COUNTY OF L.A., IT INVOLVES THOSE ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES AND, AS YOU KNOW AND I KNOW YOU KNOW BECAUSE YOU-- YOU'VE BEEN AN OBSERVER IN ELECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD AND YOU-- THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS, THIS IS YOUR FIELD, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE SYSTEM IS, IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN IT, IT'S NOT A GOOD SYSTEM. IT'S ONE OF THOSE RARE THINGS, THIS IS NOT A COMMODITY-- THE COMMODITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, IT UNDERMINES THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AND CLEARLY, AT LEAST ON THE ELECTRONIC VOTING, I SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND OF I HAVE-- AND I'M ON THE INSIDE, SO TO SPEAK, I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROCESS, THIS IS MY TENTH ELECTION, I'VE NEVER HAD REASON TO QUESTION THE SYSTEMS THAT WE'VE HAD, WHETHER IT'S INKAVOTE OR WHETHER IT'S-- I FORGOT WHAT YOU CALLED THE LAST ONE.
CONNY MCCORMACK: THE PUNCH-CARDS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THE PUNCH-CARD DEAL, I WON MY FIRST ELECTION ON THE PUNCH-CARD DEAL COUNTED BY COMPUTERS. I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WIN THAT ELECTION. ALL THE POWERS OF L.A. CITY WERE ALIGNED AGAINST ME AND YET THEY COUNTED THEM AND, WHEN THEY COUNTED THEM, I HAD 55% OF THE VOTE. SO I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT AMERICAN ELECTION OFFICIALS CAN BE HONEST AND THAT THERE'S A WAY TO PROTECT IN THESE PUNCH-CARD OR EVEN THE INKAVOTE SYSTEM. ON THE ELECTRONIC, WITHOUT A PAPER TRAIL, I'VE GOT REAL PROBLEMS AND THAT'S WHERE THE HYPOTHETICAL BECOMES MORE REAL TO ME. AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY INVESTED IN THIS, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE PROCESS IS NOT WORTH-- FOR WHATEVER THEIR REASONS AND I AM NOT GOING TO PASS JUDGMENT. BUT THEY ARE A LOT OF VERY WELL MEANING, THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THAT AND THE ISSUE THAT'S BEFORE US HERE. I'VE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE BEFORE TODAY AND I KNOW THE OTHERS I'M SURE DID IT IN THEIR OWN WAY AND WE NEED TO DO THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BOTH FOR COMMON SENSE REASONS AND FOR LEGAL REASONS, IS THAT CORRECT?
CONNY MCCORMACK: THAT'S CORRECT AND I-- BOTH REASONS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVES TO THIS AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME? IF WE...
CONNY MCCORMACK: AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, THE LEGAL PROCESS WAS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, RESPONSES, EVALUATION COMMITTEE, AS YOU KNOW, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, COUNTY COUNSEL, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF A CONSULTING TEAM IN THE COUNTY, I.S.D. ALL HELPED US WITH THIS PROCESS, IT WAS A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION. IT'S THE LEAST-- LOWEST RISK, WE BELIEVE, TO ROLL OUT A NEW VOTING SYSTEM FOR THE COUNTY AND IT'S PART OF OUR MULTIPLE PHASES, SO IT WILL BE A FEW YEARS BEFORE WE LOOK AT ANY OTHER PHASES AND I THINK ONE OF OUR KEY...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHEN WILL THIS BE READY?
CONNY MCCORMACK: FOR NOVEMBER, FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SO IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO DOING-- TO THIS PURCHASE OF THIS-- OF THESE MACHINES FOR THIS NOVEMBER OR...
CONNY MCCORMACK: NO, THERE IS NOT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ...IT, AT THIS STAGE, YOU DO THIS OR NOT BE COMPLIANT?
CONNY MCCORMACK: THAT'S CORRECT. SUPERVISOR, THAT'S CORRECT. OTHER QUESTIONS?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR MOLINA.
SUP. MOLINA: ...REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS?
CONNY MCCORMACK: YES, COMPLETE REIMBURSEMENT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AND, AGAIN, TO BE CLEAR, YOU WILL NOT SPEND A NICKEL UNTIL THEY'RE CERTIFIED.
CONNY MCCORMACK: THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ANY MONEY FOR AN UNCERTIFIED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT?
CONNY MCCORMACK: ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN'T DO THAT BY LAW, THANK YOU, SIR.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY, SO MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. OKAY. MARCIA MAYEDA.
MARCIA MAYEDA: THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU TODAY HAS ACTUALLY TWO PURPOSES. FIRST WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS REDUCE THE EUTHANASIA OF UNWANTED DOGS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHELTERS AND, SECONDARILY, WE WANT TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY BY REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF STRAY DOGS ON THE STREETS. TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT THE OVERPOPULATION ISSUE OF THE DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY, LAST YEAR, LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE COUNTY TOOK IN OVER 40,000 STRAY AND UNWANTED DOGS AND NEARLY 19,000 OF THESE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY PUT TO DEATH. OUR DEPARTMENT IS OVERWHELMED WITH UNWANTED DOGS THAT EXCEED THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE HOMES. THIS ORDINANCE WILL REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF UNWANTED ANIMALS THAT FLOOD OUR SHELTERS AND MOVE OUR DEPARTMENT TOWARDS THE NO-KILL MODEL THAT WE STRIVE FOR. AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THIS TYPE OF ORDINANCE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IS IN THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ, WHO HAS HAD AN ORDINANCE SIMILAR TO THIS FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND, DURING THIS PERIOD, THEY HAVE SEEN ANIMAL IMPOUNDS DROP BY 57%. THAT IS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AND ONE THAT WE WISH TO SEE REPEATED HERE. THE OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS PUBLIC SAFETY. STRAY ANIMALS ARE ROAMING OUR STREETS. LAST YEAR, WE TOOK IN 24,000 STRAY DOGS. UNALTERED ANIMALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ROAM AND THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO ROAM FURTHER IN PURSUIT OF MATES AND TO DEFEND THEIR TERRITORY. THEY'RE ARE PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARDS THAT COME ALONG WITH THIS, SUCH AS DOG BITES AND ATTACKS, DOGS TURNING OVER TRASH, CAUSING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, SPREADING ILLNESS AND DISEASE. ALTERING REDUCES AGGRESSION IN DOGS, IT MAY NOT ELIMINATE IT, BUT IT DOES REDUCE IT AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN AND ALTERING DOGS IS ONE OF THE FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY ANIMAL BEHAVIORISTS WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH AGGRESSIVE DOGS. IN SUMMARY, THIS ORDINANCE WILL REQUIRE THAT ALL DOGS THAT ARE FOUR MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED UNLESS A VETERINARIAN PROVIDES WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT THE SURGERY SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT BREED SPECIFIC. IT APPLIES TO ANY DOG IN THE COUNTY UNINCORPORATED AREAS. THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THIS ORDINANCE. ONE IS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT DOGS, ONE IS FOR SERVICE DOGS THAT ASSIST THE DISABLED AND ONE IS FOR COMPETITION DOGS, AND THESE ARE SHOW DOGS OR COMPETITION DOGS THAT PEOPLE USE FOR DOG SPORT SUCH AS OBEDIENCE, CONFIRMATION, HERDING, TRACKING AND OTHER COMPETITIONS THAT DOGS ARE ENGAGED IN. TO BE A COMPETITION DOG, THE DOG MUST BE PUREBRED AND REGISTERED WITH AN APPROPRIATE REGISTRY AND THEY MUST DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO ALL THREE. THEY MUST EITHER COMPETE IN AT LEAST ONE DOG COMPETITION EVENT PER YEAR OR HAVE ALREADY EARNED A TITLE IN THEIR AREA OF COMPETITION OR, IF THE OWNER DOES NOT PREFER TO SHOW, THEN THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE A MEMBER OF A PUREBRED DOG BREED CLUB THAT HAS A BREEDING CODE OF ETHICS. THIS DOES NOT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BREEDING TWO PUREBREDS TOGETHER. THERE'S BEEN A CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW, QUOTE, DESIGNER DOGS LIKE LABRADOODLES AND PUGGLES AND WHAT THOSE ARE, ARE CREATED FROM THE BREEDING OF, IN THE LABRADOODLE CASE, A LABRADOR AND A POODLE. AS LONG AS THOSE DOGS ARE PUREBRED AND REGISTERED AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPETITION DOGS, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. IT'S JUST THAT THE OFFSPRING THEN WOULD HAVE TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED. THIS ORDINANCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOLUNTARILY SPAYED AND NEUTERED THEIR DOGS HAVE DONE SO. 30 YEARS AGO, THIS DEPARTMENT TOOK IN 90,000 DOGS PER YEAR. LAST YEAR, WE TOOK IN 40,000. THIS IS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A VERY STRONG EFFORT ON BEHALF OF OUR DEPARTMENT, OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, COMPASSIONATE ANIMAL OWNERS TO ENCOURAGE SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN MANY PEOPLE DO THAT AND THE NUMBERS EVER INCOMING ANIMALS DECREASED. HOWEVER, THIS TREND IS LEVELING OFF AND WE MUST HAVE A STRONGER INCENTIVE TO KEEP THIS TREND MOVING TO MANAGEABLE NUMBERS. WE CONTINUE TO HEAR WEEKLY REPORTS OF ATTACKS FROM DOGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THIS CONTINUES TO BE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN, WE HAD 24,000 STRAY DOGS COME INTO OUR DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR. THERE'S ALSO AN ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION AND REUNIFICATION PART OF THIS ORDINANCE AND IT WILL REQUIRE THE MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS. MICROCHIPPING IS A VERY SIMPLE, NONSURGICAL PROCEDURE WHERE A MICROCHIP, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE, IS INJECTED UNDERNEATH THE SKIN BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES AND THEY ARE A PERMANENT MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION THAT CANNOT BE ALTERED, LIKE TATTOOS CAN BE ALTERED, THEY CAN FADE. DOG TAGS CAN FALL OFF. MICROCHIPS ARE PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. ONE IS FOR REUNIFICATION OF PETS. IN FACT, JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE HAD A PHONE CALL FROM HUMBLE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL. THEY HAD FOUND A DOG WITH ONE OF OUR MICROCHIPS. THE OWNERS LIVED IN DIAMOND BAR. THEY LOST THE DOG THREE YEARS AGO AND WE WERE ABLE TO REUNITE THE DOG WITH THEIR OWNERS. THEY DROVE ALL THE WAY UP TO HUMBLE COUNTY THE NEXT DAY TO GET THEIR PET. WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT TO HUMBLE COUNTY BUT IT'S AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE ABLE TO REUNITE PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS. IT'S ALSO A WAY TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY ANIMALS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO COMPORT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS COST NEUTRAL. WE WILL REQUIRE SIX ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AND TWO CLERICAL WORKERS TO ENFORCE THIS BUT THAT COST IS RECOVERED IN THE INCREASED COSTS IN THE DOG LICENSE FEES FOR UNALTERED DOGS. WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DOLLARS PER LICENSE FOR ALTERED AND UNALTERED DOGS AND THOSE $5 WOULD BE SET ASIDE IN A LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS GET SPAY/NEUTER ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR ANIMALS. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED A VERY GENEROUS OFFER FROM THE FOUND ANIMAL FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE UP TO ONE MILLION FREE MICROCHIPS TO DOG OWNERS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND DAVE LOFTUS, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THAT FOUNDATION, WILL SPEAK TO THAT UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT AND THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT WE WILL ONLY GO AFTER-- OR BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY LICENSED THEIR ANIMALS AND THEY FEEL THAT THAT WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE. IN FACT, WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST ANIMAL LICENSING PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE DOGS IN OUR SERVICE AREA ARE LICENSED, COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH IS LESS THAN 10%. THE REASON OURS IS SO SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE WE HAVE LICENSE CANVASSERS, 41 PEOPLE ON STAFF, FULL-TIME, THAT, YEAR-ROUND, COLLECT DELINQUENT PET LICENSES AND ALSO DISCOVER UNLICENSED DOGS IN THE COMMUNITY. 38% OF THE LICENSES THAT THESE CANVASSERS BRING IN ARE NEW DOGS WHOSE OWNERS DID NOT VOLUNTARILY LICENSE THEM. SO WE HAVE A VERY EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. ALSO, ANY DOG THAT GETS LOOSE, A STRAY ANIMAL THAT COMES INTO THE SHELTER, WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDINANCE, SO THEY'LL BE REQUIRED TO EITHER OBTAIN AN UNALTERED DOG LICENSE IF THEY'VE MET THE CRITERIA OR HAVE THEIR DOG STERILIZED AND THAT WILL GREATLY REDUCE, OVER TIME, THE NUMBER OF INCOMING ANIMALS INTO OUR SHELTERS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE AGE OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE HAVE SET, WHICH WOULD BE FOUR MONTHS OF AGE WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE STERILIZED. WE FEEL THAT'S REASONABLE, FOR SEVERAL REASONS. ONE, THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS SPAY AND NEUTER DOWN TO EIGHT WEEKS OF AGE. IT'S BEEN DONE FOR THOUSANDS AND PROBABLY MILLIONS OF ANIMALS ROUND THE COUNTRY. ALL ANIMALS SHELTERS WILL DO THIS DOWN TO SIX OR EIGHT WEEKS OF AGE. OUR OWN DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN STERILIZING ANIMALS AT THAT AGE FOR MANY YEARS. IT'S AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE THE OVERPOPULATION OF ANIMALS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. FOUR MONTHS IS REASONABLE. HOWEVER, IF A PET OWNER HAS A CONCERN AND THEIR VETERINARIAN HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE AGE OR THE CONDITION OF THE ANIMAL, THE VETERINARIAN CAN GIVE A WAIVER TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THE ANIMAL COULD BE STERILIZED YET AND THAT IT COULD COME BACK AT A LATER TIME WHEN IT'S OLDER AND WE, OF COURSE, WOULD RESPECT THE VETERINARIAN'S POSITION IN THAT CASE. WE'VE LOOKED AT DOING OTHER OPTIONS BUT THE REASON FOUR MONTHS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE AGE, UNDER STATE LAW, THAT DOGS ARE REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT AGE. SOME PEOPLE IN THE SHOW WORLD HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE AGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T START SHOWING THEIR PUPPIES UNTIL PERHAPS SIX MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER. THOSE PEOPLE WOULD STILL HAVE AN EXCEPTION UNDER THE JOINING A BREED CLUB WITH A BREEDING CODE OF EXCEPTION, SO THEY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE SHOWING THEIR ANIMALS AT THAT AGE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT WE MAY RUN OUT OF DOGS. [ LAUGHTER ]
MARCIA MAYEDA: AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT SCENARIO TO SEE AND NOT VERY REASONABLE. IF IT EVER GETS TO THE POINT WHERE WE'VE RUN OUT OF DOGS, I WILL BE HAPPY TO COME BACK TO THE SUPERVISORS AND RECOMMEND A CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE BUT, FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OVERWHELMED WITH ANIMALS. 40,000 DOGS A YEAR COMING INTO OUR SHELTERS. WE'RE THE LARGEST ANIMAL SHELTERING AGENCY IN THE NATION AND THERE'S A VERY, VERY STRONG PUBLIC DEMAND TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS EUTHANIZED IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A STRONG PUBLIC DEMAND TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF STRAY ANIMALS THAT ARE CAUSING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND UNSTERILIZED ANIMALS ARE VERY LIKELY TO STRAY AND ROAM AND CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. SO WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE APPROACH, IT'S ONE THAT'S BEEN TESTED AND PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION AND WE RECOMMEND THIS TO BE ADOPTED BY YOUR SUPERVISORS. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. [ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE BOARD RULES DON'T APPROVE OF APPLAUSE. IF YOU WANT TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, YOU CAN JUST WAVE YOUR HANDS AND THAT ACCOMPLISHES YOUR GOAL AND EVERYBODY RETAINS ORDER. THANK YOU, MARCIA. ANY QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR MOLINA?
SUP. MOLINA: WITH REGARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION, THIS WOULD TAKE PLACE, IF WE WERE TO APPROVE IT TODAY, IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED WHEN?
MARCIA MAYEDA: IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED JUNE 2ND-- WELL, IT WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE JUNE 2ND.
SUP. MOLINA: THE REASON I'M SAYING IS THAT YOU NEED TO CREATE AN AWFUL LOT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION ON THIS. I KNOW THAT, IN MY AREA OF UNINCORPORATED EAST L.A., THERE ARE MANY, MANY DOGS AND PARTICULARLY A LOT OF STRAY DOGS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ONGOING PROBLEMS, AS YOU KNOW, AND SO, CONSEQUENTLY, IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE VERY GOOD PUBLIC INFORMATION. HOW PEOPLE-- I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU CAN PUBLISH A STORY, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY-- I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A FULL CAMPAIGN SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE CARRIED OUT AND IMPLEMENTED, BECAUSE, INITIALLY, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTIMIDATING TO PEOPLE. IT SOUNDS SO NEGATIVE BUT, IN THE LONG RUN, IT'S A VERY PROTECTIVE, FOR THE MOST PART, PROTECTIVE ORDINANCE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT. SO DO YOU HAVE A PLAN AS TO WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WE DO HAVE A PLAN FOR PUBLIC OUTREACH. WE DON'T PLAN TO PLAY GOTCHA WITH PEOPLE THE DAY THIS ORDINANCE COMES INTO EFFECT. OUR GOAL IS TO GET COMPLIANCE, NOT TO HAVE PEOPLE RELINQUISH ANIMALS OR TRY TO AVOID US. WE FEEL THAT IT'S A PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT SAFER AND HEALTHIER FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. WE WILL BE DOING PUBLIC OUTREACH MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, WE'LL HAVE MATERIALS TO DISTRIBUTE TO PEOPLE WITH NAMES AND ADDRESSES AND CONTACTS FOR LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES, EXPLAINING WHAT THE ORDINANCE ENTAILS, WE'LL HAVE IT IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. WE'VE HAD THE OFFER FROM THE RESCUE AND HUMANE ALLIANCE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF OVER 53 ANIMAL PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY TO ASSIST US WITH THAT OUTREACH EFFORT. SO WE WILL, BY ALL MEANS, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE IT VERY WELL KNOWN AND UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE COMMUNITIES.
SUP. MOLINA: AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THE ISSUE? WE HAVE SO MANY UNLICENSED ANIMALS AND PETS. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THAT? BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS, AGAIN, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COMPLY.
MARCIA MAYEDA: RIGHT. WELL, AS I SAID, WE HAVE A 60% MARKET PENETRATION IN THE LICENSING. 60% OF THE DOGS IN OUR SERVICE AREAS ARE LICENSED, COMPARED WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF ONLY 10%, SO WE'VE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL LICENSING PROGRAM BECAUSE OF OUR LICENSED CANVASSERS, SO WE'LL USE OUR CANVASSERS TO CONTINUE TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THIS ENTAILS. THE ONLY ANALOGY I CAN THINK OF IS, IS WE HAVE LOTS OF LAWS ON THE BOOKS. NOT EVERYBODY FOLLOWS THE LAWS, BUT MOST PEOPLE DO, MOST PEOPLE ARE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AND THEY DO DO THAT. THE POLICE DON'T CATCH EVERY CRIMINAL AND, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, IF SOMEBODY HAS A DOG THAT'S UNSTERILIZED THAT LIVES INSIDE THAT NEVER COMES INTO OUR SHELTERS SO WE DON'T ENFORCE IT, THE DOG IS ALSO NOT CAUSING US A PROBLEM, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THAT MUCH OF AN ISSUE BUT WE DO HAVE A VERY STRONG PENETRATION INTO THE DOG LICENSING FIELD AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, AND ALSO, EVERY DOG THAT COMES INTO OUR SHELTER WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THIS PRIOR TO BEING RELEASED. SO THEY'D EITHER HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR AND OBTAIN AN UNALTERED LICENSE OR HAVE THEIR ANIMAL STERILIZED BEFORE THEY LEAVE. WE HAVE VETERINARY CLINICS AT EVERY ONE OF OUR SHELTERS, SO WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT FOR THEM.
SUP. KNABE: MR. MAYOR, COULD I JUST FOLLOW UP? AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN RAISED TO ME AND PARTICULARLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF MY DISTRICT, IS THE ISSUE OF SENIORS AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE FORM OF EDUCATION OR OUTREACH WOULD BE OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND DEALING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAINLY, AT LEAST FROM THE LETTERS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED, SOME SENSE OF FEAR THERE ABOUT ABSCONDING WITH THEIR ANIMALS AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO I THINK WE NEED, ONE, IS AN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH OVERALL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION, BUT ALSO THERE MAY BE SOME UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE SENIOR CENTERS TO DO SO.
MARCIA MAYEDA: CERTAINLY. WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AND OUR GOAL IS NOT TO SEPARATE SENIORS FROM THEIR PETS. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO THEM AS THEIR COMPANIONS AND THEY MAKE WONDERFUL PET OWNERS.
SUP. KNABE: RIGHT, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT SO THERE IS SOME FEAR OUT THERE.
MARCIA MAYEDA: AND WE HAVE THE LOW COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO IF THEY'RE ON FIXED INCOMES, WE CAN HELP THEM OBTAIN SERVICES OR, IF THEIR ANIMAL IS TOO OLD, THE ANIMAL CAN GET A DEFERMENT FROM THE VETERINARIAN ALSO.
SUP. KNABE: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU EACH TO ONE MINUTE. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO CALL CAESAR MILAN, MADELINE BERNSTEIN, SUE TAYLOR AND JOANNE WORLEY. CESAR HAD TO LEAVE? OKAY. THEN MARIA GUTZEIT. JUST BEFORE YOU SPEAK, GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON.
SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAVE CESAR MILAN'S NOTES. CESAR MILAN IS THE DOG WHISPERER AND HE HAS A NATIONALLY TELEVISED SHOW AND IS AN EXPERT IN HIS FIELD AND VERY WELL KNOWN FOR HANDLING ESPECIALLY AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS AND WHAT CAESAR WANTED TO TELL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT, IN HIS OPINION, IN ORDER TO STOP EUTHANASIA, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING-- WITHIN THE SHELTERS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO IS TO SPAY AND NEUTER OUR PETS. IN HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION, THE ALTERED PET DOESN'T ROAM TO LOOK FOR A MATE, IT REDUCES AGGRESSION, REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT A ANIMAL WOULD WANT TO ATTACK, IT REDUCES FRUSTRATION AND DEPRESSION AND INSECURITY IN ANIMALS WHEN THEY ARE SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND MAKES THEM BETTER COMMUNITY PETS. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONE DOG IN HEAT CAN MAKE AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD UNSTABLE BECAUSE AN INTACT DOG CAN SMELL A FEMALE IN HEAT FOR MILES AROUND AND IT CAN CAUSE THAT DOG'S BEHAVIOR TO BECOME AGGRESSIVE. DOGS LEAVE THEIR SCENT FOR OTHER DOGS TO FIND. PEOPLE HAVE EMAIL AND DOGS HAVE PEE-MAIL AND THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. THANK YOU. [ LAUGHTER ]
MADELEINE BERNSTEIN: HI. I'M MADELEINE BERNSTEIN. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS REALLY A GREAT DAY WHOSE TIME HAS COME TO SPAY AND NEUTER THE PETS AND I COMMEND MARCIA MAYEDA AND THE SUPERVISORS FOR EVEN CONSIDERING THAT WHICH THE STATE WAS NOT QUITE YET READY TO CONSIDER. THERE ARE VARIOUS LAWS ON THE BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE STATES MANDATING THAT SHELTERS SPAY AND NEUTER BEFORE RELEASE, MANDATING RESCUE GROUPS SPAY AND NEUTER BEFORE RELEASE AND YET THERE ARE STILL MORE ANIMALS EUTHANIZED AND MORE ANIMALS BEING BORN ONLY TO DIE IN A SHELTER AND IT'S NOT FAIR. BEING BREED SPECIFIC IS EVEN WORSE. IT VICTIMIZED ALREADY VICTIM BREEDS WHO, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, END UP BECOMING EXTINCT BECAUSE OF THE POOR CARE AND POOR COMPASSION. THIS BILL IS ALSO-- THIS ORDINANCE IS ALSO INTELLIGENT IN THAT, INSTEAD OF USING RESOURCES TO ARGUE, IS MY DOG COVERED UNDER THIS NEW ORDINANCE, IT MAKES IT VERY CLEAR. YOU SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG AND YOU DON'T WASTE A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY ON HEARINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHO WOULD OPPOSE THIS BILL? WELL, MARCIA GAVE YOU SOME BUT TYPICALLY OPPONENTS OF THIS BILL ARE THE BACKYARD BREEDERS, THE PEOPLE WHO SEEK FINANCIAL GAIN WHO AREN'T PAYING THEIR TAXES-- IS MY TIME UP?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YOUR TIME IS UP. THE LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS IS HOLLYWOOD.
MADELEINE BERNSTEIN: I'M SORRY. PLEASE APPROVE IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES.
JOANNE WORLEY: GOOD MORNING. I MEAN GOOD AFTERNOON.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: TO THE PEOPLE AT HOME, GOOD EVENING.
JOANNE WORLEY: I'M JOANN WORLEY, AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ACTORS AND OTHERS FOR ANIMAL, AN ORGANIZATION THAT, OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS, HAS SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SPAY AND NEUTER THE COMPANION ANIMALS OF SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. ARE YOU GIRLS GOING? BYE. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND YOUR VOTE IS GOING TO MAKE HISTORY TODAY. DOGS ARE NOT-- ARE MORE THAN OUR COMPANIONS. MANY OF THEM, AS YOU KNOW, WORK VERY HARD TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COUNTRY. I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR STANDING UP AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS SHAMEFUL TO KILL DOGS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE HOMES. WELL, WE KNOW THAT LEGISLATURE... [ APPLAUSE ]
JOANNE WORLEY: WHILE WE KNOW THAT LEGISLATION ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM, IT IS VITAL AND A MOTIVATING FACTOR AND THAT'S YOU GUYS. ON BEHALF OF OVER 8,500 MEMBERS OF MY ORGANIZATION, I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE TODAY AND I THANK YOU FOR GIVING IT YOUR ATTENTION AND FINANCIAL BACKING. ONE MINUTE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. GOOD. [ LAUGHTER ] DUARTE DAVID LOFTUS, ALISON STANLEY AND JUDY CRUMPTON.
MARIA GUTZEIT: MY NAME IS MARIA GUTZEIT. I'M ELECTED DIRECTOR OF NEW HALL COUNTY WATER DISTRICT BUT I'M HERE ON MY OWN BEHALF TODAY ONLY. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THESE CHANGES. WHO WILL OPPOSE THIS MEASURE? ILLEGAL BACKYARD BREEDERS WHO KEEP DOGS CRAMMED IN CAGES STACKED IN THEIR GARAGE CRANKING OUT PUPPIES FOR PROFIT, PEOPLE SMUGGLING SICK, UNDERAGE PUPS FROM MEXICO AS REPORTED BY THE "L.A. TIMES" THIS WEEK. WHO WILL SUPPORT IT? DOG OWNERS WHO KNOW THAT SPAY AND NEUTER IS A SMALL PART OF THE LIFELONG CARE COSTS FOR THEIR PETS. RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS WHO TOIL UNDERSTAFFED AND UNPAID, DEALING WITH THE UNRELENTING TIDE OF SICK, INJURED AND ABANDONED ANIMALS. THIS IS A WELL WRITTEN, COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE. THERE ARE EXISTING WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES FOR AS LITTLE AS $10 SO IT WILL NOT AFFECT LOW INCOME PEOPLE. FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS AND FOR THE TWO HOMELESS PUPS THAT WERE UP FOR ADOPTION THIS MORNING, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, A NICE ARTICLE YOU'VE WRITTEN FOR THE SIGNAL.
MARIA GUTZEIT: I HAVE COPIES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. YOU'RE GOING TO PASS IT OUT?
MARIA GUTZEIT: YES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. THE SERGEANT WILL PASS IT OUT. OKAY.
SUSAN TAYLOR: HI. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE. MY NAME IS SUSAN TAYLOR. THOSE IN OPPOSITION WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS WHO BREED FOR ENJOYMENT OF THE SPORT OR AS A HOBBY. WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME, MOST ARE LOOKING TO MAKE MONEY. I ADDED UP THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE MADE ON DOG SALES FOR ALL OF THE ADS IN THE SUNDAY "LOS ANGELES TIMES" BASED ON JUST ONE PUPPY. $121,218. THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS $600 AND THE HIGHEST $3,300. BY THE WAY, WHY DON'T YOU ASK ALL OF THE BREEDERS HERE TO STAND UP IF THEY PAID SALES TAX. FOR JUST THESE ADS, IT WOULD BE OVER $10,000. ONE DAY YOU WILL ALL RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH REVENUE IS SLIPPING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS. AND THIS IS ONLY ONE NEWSPAPER FOR ONE DAY BASED ON ONE PUPPY. I AM HERE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACTORS AND OTHERS FOR ANIMALS TODAY TO OFFER YOU MONEY. IN SUPPORT OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE, ACTORS AND OTHERS PLEDGES $25,000 TO ASSIST COUNTY RESIDENTS IN STERILIZING THEIR PETS TO MEET THE NEW REQUIREMENTS IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
SUSAN TAYLOR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME CALL UP LILA BROOKS. OKAY. WHOEVER.
DAVE LOFTUS: MR. MAYOR, SUPERVISORS, MY NAME IS DAVE LOFTUS AND I'M HERE TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE AND TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND, IN PART, FOR OUR PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 1 MILLION MICROCHIPS AND ONLINE REGISTRATION FREE OF CHARGE TO PERMANENTLY IDENTIFY DOGS AND CATS IN THE GREATER L.A. REGION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE TODAY AS IT WILL SAVE LIVES AND TAXPAYER MONEY FROM DAY ONE. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LILA BROOKS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY, SIR? WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY?
DAVE LOFTUS: IT IS THE FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION, WE'RE A PRIVATE FOUNDATION HERE IN LOS ANGELES. THE COMMITMENT WE'RE MAKING TODAY IS FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE MILLION CHIPS, THAT WOULD BE A WHOLESALE VALUE OF $10 MILLION.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THAT'S VERY GENEROUS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. LET ME CALL UP LILA BROOKS.
PHYLLIS DAUGHERTY: PHYLLIS DAUGHERTY. I AM DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL ISSUES MOVEMENT AND I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION BOARD AND WORKING WITH MARCIA MAYEDA AND HER STAFF. MAYOR ANTONOVICH-- MAYOR ANTONOVICH, THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME OFF WORK AND FROM THEIR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. COULD WE HAVE YOUR PERMISSION FOR THEM TO STAND?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND, MEMBERS THERE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PHYLLIS DAUGHERTY: THANK YOU SO MUCH. OF COURSE, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T NEED LAWS, THAT THEIR ANIMALS ARE ALL WELL CARED FOR AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS AND, OF COURSE, THEY ARE. THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE'S ANIMAL AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY AND THAT WE MUST ALL COMPLY WITH LAWS OF SAFETY AND HEALTH. IT IS THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE OUT THERE ATTEMPTING TO BREED THAT ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO ATTACK AND ALSO THE MOST LIKELY TO SPREAD DISEASE AND PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS AND THE FUNDING FOR IT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. OKAY.
JUDY CRUMPTON: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JUDY CRUMPTON AND I RESIDE IN LONG BEACH. YOU'VE HEARD MANY GOOD REASONS WHY WE DEFINITELY DO NEED TO SUPPORT WHAT I THINK IS A WONDERFUL PROPOSAL TO THE AMENDMENT THAT WE-- TO THE AMENDMENT OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID. I THINK MARCIA DID A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION, COVERED A LOT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BACKYARD BREEDING PROBLEMS. I AM OPPOSED TO ALL BREEDING, BUT I WILL SAY THE BACKYARD BREEDING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND I, FOR ONE, AM A LITTLE CONFUSED WHY REGISTERED BREEDERS AREN'T SUPPORTING US AND IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE OVERPOPULATION AND, BY ADDRESSING BACKYARD BREEDERS, WE WILL BE ELIMINATING A LOT OF THE KILLING IN OUR SHELTERS, AND WE COULD GO ON AND ON. THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY WE NEED TO ADDRESS PET OVERPOPULATION BUT I BEG YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM ALL OF THESE MARVELOUS PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO CALL UP TERI AUSTIN AND WENDY ARAGON.
DR. ALLISON STANLEY: MY NAME IS DR. ALLISON STANLEY, I'M A CO-DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA LOBBY FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS PULLED FROM A SHELTER AT THE AGE OF TWO DAYS OLD, JUST A FEW HOURS AWAY FROM GETTING THE NEEDLE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY BEING KILLED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY. THERE ARE TOO MANY BEING PRODUCED. AND EVERYONE WHO ISN'T TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP, IT FEELS LIKE TRYING TO CLEAN UP A TIDAL WAVE WITH A PAPER TOWEL. WE MUST HAVE THE HELP OF LEGISLATION, OF THIS ORDINANCE, SO THAT THE TIDAL WAVE WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH AND SO THAT THERE WILL BE FEWER ANIMALS TO BE KILLED. I WENT THROUGH THE "L.A. TIMES" ON SUNDAY AND JUST PICKED OUT FOR YOU THE ADS OF DOGS AND CATS FOR SALE. THERE WERE 127 ADS, A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF NUMBERS OF ANIMALS REPRESENTED IN THOSE ADS WOULD BE ABOUT 508 AND I'M HAPPY TO LEAVE THIS HERE FOR YOU. WE KNOW THAT ONE FEMALE CAT AND HER OFFSPRING CAN PRODUCE 420,000 KITTENS IN SEVEN YEARS. ONE FEMALE DOG AND HER OFFSPRING CAN PRODUCE 67,000 PUPPIES IN SIX YEARS. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LILA?
LILA BROOKS: MY NAME IS LILA BROOKS, CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE DEFENDERS. TWO MONTHS AGO, I CAME BEFORE YOU AND REQUESTED THAT THE OWNERSHIP OF PIT BULLS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE LETHAL WEAPONS BE RESTRICTED. NOW WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE SPAY AND NEUTER SYSTEM BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES HAS FOR SPAYING AND/OR NEUTER, NO CHARGE FOR SENIORS AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND A DISCOUNT VOUCHER COUPON OF $30 FOR ALL OTHERS. BREEDERS WILL DISAGREE BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY BUT IT MAKES NO SENSE TO BREED MORE AND MORE ANIMALS, MOST OF WHICH EVENTUALLY ARE BEING EUTHANIZED. OVER BREEDING HAS TO STOP AND THERE'S NO WAY TO DECREASE THE ANIMAL POPULATION UNLESS A VOUCHER SYSTEM IS BEING ESTABLISHED, MAINLY FOR PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS BUT FOR ALL OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO CALL UP PAMELYN FERDIN AND JAN WEBER. YES.
TERI AUSTIN: I'M TERI AUSTIN, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AMANDA FOUNDATION. THE AMANDA FOUNDATION IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST DOG AND CAT RESCUE IN LOS ANGELES. WE TAKE OUR ANIMALS FROM COUNTY AND CITY SHELTERS. WE ALSO RUN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MOBILE SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM IN THE STATE. OVER 20% OF THE DOGS THAT WE NEUTER ARE OVER 50 POUNDS, SO WE SEE THIS ON BOTH ENDS. WE SEE IT FROM THE SPAY/NEUTER ASPECT AND WE SEE IT FROM THE ADOPTION ASPECT AND WE'RE IN THE SHELTERS TO SEE THE ANIMALS THERE. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE WILL TELL YOU THAT PUREBRED ANIMALS FROM RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS DO NOT END UP IN THE SHELTERS. YOUR OWN STAFF WILL TELL YOU DIFFERENTLY. THIS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY. THE REASON THE BREEDERS DON'T WANT A PERMIT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY YOU'VE ASKED THEM FOR, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR AND NOT BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE TAX THIS THEY GET AWAY WITH NOT PAYING. THE AMERICAN KENNEL SOCIETY OR KENNEL CLUB, RATHER, MAKES THREE-QUARTERS OF THEIR INCOME FROM THE REGISTRATION OF NEW PUPPIES. IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE UNALTERED ORDINANCE SHOULD BE A HIGHER AMOUNT AND I THINK THAT THE ANIMALS ENTERED IN SHOWS SHOULD BE AT LEAST THREE SHOWS A YEAR AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHICH CLUBS BECOME ACCREDITED AND NOT ACCREDITED BECAUSE THERE'S A FREEDOM OF SPEECH ISSUE THAT COMES UP ABOUT CLUBS. THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB IS NOT A ACCREDITED ORGANIZATION OR A GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION AND THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY CLUB IN THE STATE AND YOU MAY FIND THAT, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAVE THE ROLLING 36 STREET PIT BULL CLUB WHO ALSO SHOWS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR YOU. THE PUBLIC OUTREACH, THE COALITION FOR PETS AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR PARTNER WITH THE SPAY/NEUTER VAN AND WE HAVE OFFERED A PROGRAM FOR COUNTY DOGS TO BE OFFERED STARTING IN JUNE IN LANCASTER/PALMDALE AREA AND IN SUPPORT OF YOUR ORDINANCE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO CALL UP KOBE SIEGENTHALER AND MARINA LOPEZ. YES.
WENDY ARAGON: WENDY ARAGON. I'M PRESIDENT OF PET ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION. WE WERE FOUNDED 50 YEARS AGO TO COMBAT PET OVERPOPULATION AND WE'RE STILL AT IT. WE COMBAT PET OVERPOPULATION THROUGH LOW COST STERILIZATION REFERRAL, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SUBSIDY OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT. WE SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR HELPING PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY SPAY AND NEUTER THEIR PETS AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT, IN SUPERVISOR MOLINA'S AREA, WE HELP MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THAT AREA IN THE EAST L.A. AREA. WE WANT TO APPLAUD THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL, ESPECIALLY DIRECTOR MAYEDA AND YOU, MAYOR ANTONOVICH, FOR DRAFTING AND SPEARHEADING THIS ORDINANCE. IT IS INDEED A HISTORIC OCCASION. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL ATTEMPTS...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. WITH ALL THOSE NICE WORDS, I HAVE TO SAY YOUR TIME'S UP.
WENDY ARAGON: CAN I JUST SAY THIS? WE BELIEVE THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO CURTAIL PET OVERPOPULATION REQUIRE A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH OF LEGISLATION, EDUCATION AND LOW COST STERILIZATION PROGRAMS AND THIS IS INDEED A WELCOME CORNERSTONE, THE LEGISLATIVE COMPONENT. WE URGE YOU TO PASS IT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I AGREE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.
PAMELYN FERDIN: PAMELYN FERDIN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF HEALTHY, TREATABLE, CATS, DOGS, PUPPIES AND KITTENS THAT ARE SLAUGHTERED IN OUR CITY SHELTERS. THEY'RE NOT SHELTERS, THEY'RE ACTUAL DEATH CAMPS. THEY BECOME DEATH CAMPS FOR LOST, HOMELESS AND FERAL ANIMALS. THIS IS NOT EUTHANASIA. EUTHANASIA IS WHEN A BEING IS DYING OF A DISEASE THAT IS INCURABLE AND THAT ARE SUFFERING SO MUCH THAT THEY MUST BE PUT OUT OF THEIR PAIN. THESE ANIMALS ARE BEING KILLED, SO LET'S NOT FORGET. AND THE NUMBERS ARE SO STAGGERING BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF JUST ONE IN THE THROES OF DEATH. REMEMBER, THESE ANIMALS ARE WALKED, DRAGGED TO THE KILL ROOM. THEY'RE CALLED BUMP ROOMS, ONE BY ONE. THEY URINATE, DEFECATE AND VOMIT IN SHEER TERROR BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED. [ INTERJECTIONS ] [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MARY BALIAN AND BARBARA MAGNUSSON. YES, MA'AM.
COBY SIEGENTHALER: MY NAME IS COBY SIEGENTHALER AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE HUMANE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS WORKING IN THE WEST VALLEY SHELTER AS A VOLUNTEER. THE KILLING NEVER CEASES. AND OF ALL BREEDS. THIS ORDINANCE IS THE ONE THING THAT CAN STOP THIS HORRIFIC KILLING. THESE BACKYARD BREEDERS ARE LOOKING IN THE POUNDS FOR THEIR BITCHES TO-- NOT FOR THE LOVE OF IT, BUT FOR THE GREENS THEY ARE SEEING TO MISS. WELL, WE NEED TO STOP THIS AND I'M THANKING YOU FOR GETTING THIS INVOLVED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. WAS JAN WEBBER HERE? JAN WEBBER? OKAY. PERIEL STANFIELD. STANFIELD. AND JAN EVERETT-- ON JANET EVERETT GUTIER. OKAY. YOU'RE ON.
MARINA LOPEZ: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARINA LOPEZ. I RESIDE IN HOLLYWOOD. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LOS ANGELES, BOTH IN THE COUNTY OF L.A. AND THE CITY OF L.A., I WAS RAISED. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I HAVE SEEN THE POSTERS, LITERATURE, T.V. SPOTS, BUMPER STICKERS AND, YES, ATTENDED COUNTLESS MEETINGS ON THIS VERY SUBJECT, LIKE TODAY, SPAYING AND NEUTERING. AND, GUESS WHAT? IT'S NOT WORKING. IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND NOW IT HAS REACHED A CRISIS POINT. I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE ACTION NOW. TOMORROW IS TODAY. VOTE "YES" ON THIS ORDINANCE. MAKE PEACE WITH THE ANIMALS AND MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES.
MARY BALIAN: HI. MY NAME IS MARY BALIAN AND I'LL MAKE IT BRIEF. I VOLUNTEER AT A NO-KILL PET ADOPTION FUND RESCUE. WE HAVE OVER-- AT ANY GIVEN TIME, ABOUT 175 DOGS AND CATS AS WELL AND MOST OF THE DOGS THAT WE HOUSE ARE PUREBRED AND WE DO GET SOME WITH PAPERS AND WE ALSO GET COUNTLESS NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE TIED UP OUTSIDE TO THE POLES OVERNIGHT AND WE END UP WITH THESE ANIMALS AND I JUST-- I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE SHELTER ANIMALS, DEAD OR ALIVE, ABUSED, NEGLECTED, CHAINED UP PIT BULLS IN THE BACKYARD, WE NEED THIS TO PASS, WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THE SUFFERING AND WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THE BACKYARD BREEDERS. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME CALL YAEL TROCK AND JENNIFER WARNER.
PERIEL STANFIELD: OKAY. MY NAME IS PERIEL STANFIELD. BREEDERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OPERATING ILLEGITIMATELY WITHOUT A BREEDERS OR BUSINESS LICENSE AND NOT REPORTING THEIR INCOME TO THE I.R.S. ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE BY FLOODING AN ALREADY OVERSATURATED MARKET WITH MORE ANIMALS. TO THOSE OF US IN ANIMAL RESCUE, ANIMALS ARE A PASSION. TO BREEDERS, THEY ARE A PRODUCT. BREEDING IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS IN THAT THE SO-CALLED PRODUCTS ARE LIVING BEINGS. IN OTHER BUSINESSES, WHEN THERE'S A GLUT IN THE MARKET, PRODUCT SITS ON THE SHELVES AND END UP AT THE 99 CENT STORES. BUT THE PRODUCTS OF BREEDERS ARE DIFFERENT. FOR EVERY ANIMAL SOLD BY A BREEDER, HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER ARE PUT TO DEATH. BREEDER'S ANIMALS THAT DON'T GET SOLD OFTEN GET DUMPED IN THE SHELTER AND THOSE THAT ARE SOLD OFTEN END UP IN THE SHELTER AFTER HAVING OUTGROWN THEIR PUPPY HOOD. IT'S TIME TO STOP THE ENDLESS FLOOD OF ANIMALS INTO OUR SHELTERS BY CONTROLLING PET OVERPOPULATION WITH MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER ORDINANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
JAN YVETTE BOUDREAUX: I'VE DONE INDEPENDENT RESCUE WORK-- MY NAME IS JAN YVETTE BOUDREAUX AND I'VE ALSO VOLUNTEERED AT THE POUNDS. I'VE SEEN DOGS DRUG TO THE KILL ROOM. I'VE SEEN ATROCITIES THAT ARE UNMENTIONABLE. I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO A BACKYARD BREEDER. I'VE SEEN DEAD BODIES THROWN IN GARBAGE CANS, I'VE SEEN SKELETONS DUG UP. I DON'T NEED TO GO ON AND ON. THIS IS SO OVERDUE, YOU GUYS, THIS IS SO PASSIONATE TO MY HEART BECAUSE THESE ANIMALS DID NOTHING BUT GET BORN AND THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED. THE UNBORN NEED TO BE PROTECTED. WE DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS. THE RED SYMBOLIZES THE BLOOD ON US, AS HUMAN BEINGS, IF WE DO NOT STAND UP AND UNITE AND SAY THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. MY NEIGHBOR, I WILL TELL YOU IN ONE QUOTE, SHE SAID TO ME, "WHATEVER DOESN'T SELL GOES TO EAST VALLEY, J.J." OKAY? THAT'S THE POUND I FOCUS ON, IS EAST VALLEY SHELTER, SO I URGE YOU, PLEASE PASS THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO CALL UP SHARON HABO AND RACHEL PAAP.
YAEL TROCK: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YAEL TROCK. I'M A PRACTICING ATTORNEY HERE IN LOS ANGELES, EVEN THOUGH I'M RUNNING MY PRACTICE OUT OF NECESSITY, I STARTED PRODUCING A T.V. SHOW FOR PET ADOPTION BECAUSE THERE'S SIMPLY A NEED FOR THAT. THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS SAYING THAT, FOR EVERY PERSON BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, 15 DOGS AND 45 CATS WILL PROBABLY BE BORN. THAT'S A LOT OF COMPANION ANIMALS THAT DO NOT HAVE HOMES AND WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THAT. WE ABSOLUTELY MUST PASS AN ORDINANCE SUCH AS THIS. WE ALSO END UP KILLING BETWEEN THREE TO FOUR MILLION ANIMALS IN OUR SHELTERS. THIS IS THREE TO FOUR GOOD REASONS TO PASS THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LOS ANGELES, WHERE I LIVE, LEAD THE NATION IN THIS UNIQUE ORDINANCE AND TEACH OUR COUNTRY THAT THERE IS A WAY TO BE COMPASSIONATE TOWARD OUR ANIMALS, THAT THERE IS A WAY TO BE KIND. AND, FINALLY, LET ME END MY PLEA BY SAYING SPAY FOR L.A. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
JENNIFER WARNER: HI. MY NAME IS JENNIFER WARNER AND I'M A 10-YEAR RESIDENT OF L.A. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER FOR NINE YEARS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I SAW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE PROPOSED AND I URGE YOU TO PASS IT. I SEE, DAY TO DAY, THE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS, HEALTHY, ADOPTABLE, SWEET DOGS AND CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS THAT ARE KILLED SIMPLY FOR THE LACK OF HOMES AND THIS IS ONE REALLY IMPORTANT STEP THAT COULD HELP END THAT KILLING. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. THERESA MACELLARO AND IRENE PONCE AND MARYSIA WOJCKI.
ANGELA PAAP: HI. MY NAME IS ANGELA PAAP, DIRECTOR OF THE SAM SIMON FOUNDATION AND WE OPERATE THE CITY OF L.A. CONTRACTED MOBILE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC THAT PROVIDES FREE SPRAY AND NEUTER AND OTHER SERVICES TO ALL LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF L.A. WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS GROUND- BREAKING ORDINANCE AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT WILL SURELY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE EUTHANIZED IN THE SHELTERS AND THE NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS ON THE STREETS. YOU'VE HEARD THE STATISTICS FROM OTHER WELFARE COMRADES IN THIS ROOM. THE COUNTY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN INCREASING THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IF WE DO NOT ACT ON THIS. IT IS TRUE THAT AN UNNEUTERED DOG IS MOST LIKELY TO WANDER AND MOST LIKELY TO BITE AND THESE THINGS CAN DEFINITELY BE IMPACTED BY THIS ORDINANCE. LET'S SET A PRECEDENT HERE IN ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE AREAS OF THIS COUNTRY AND PROVIDE A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY HERE. I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES.
THERESA MACELLARO: HONORABLE SUPERVISORS, MY NAME IS THERESA MACELLARO. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESCUE AND HUMANE ALLIANCE. WE HAVE OVER 50 MEMBER GROUPS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND HUMANE ASSOCIATIONS AND WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. I WOULD NOTE THAT IT'S VERY UNUSUAL IN THE HUMANE COMMUNITY TO HAVE SUCH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES OF WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE WANT YOU TO DO. THE ONE THING WE WOULD URGE, IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN STATED, IS FOR YOU TO ELIMINATE THE MEMBER OF THE CLUB LOOPHOLE BECAUSE WE FEAR THAT THAT MAY ALLOW THE BACKYARD BREEDING TO CONTINUE, AND THAT IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM. WE ALSO URGE YOU TO INCREASE THE PRICE DIFFERENTIAL, PERHAPS LOOK TO THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES' ORDINANCE, WHICH HAS A $100 CHARGE FOR AN UNALTERED ANIMAL. WITH THOSE AMENDMENTS, WE URGE YOU TO DO THIS AND WE FEEL THAT, IN THE FUTURE, YOU WILL SAVE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF YOUR BUDGET KILLING THE ANIMALS IN YOUR SHELTERS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME ASK IS SHARON HABO HERE OR BARBARA MAGNUSSON? DID SHE LEAVE? OKAY. THEN LET ME CALL UP DIANA LANNES AND GRETCHEN RYAN.
IRENE PONCE: GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS IRENE PONCE. I'M A LONG-TIME VOLUNTEER WITH L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES, APPROXIMATELY 11 YEARS. AND TODAY IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT FOR ALL OF YOU HERE AND FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY. I WITH GREAT URGENCY WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TO YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. IT IS A WIN/WIN SITUATION FOR ALL INVOLVED. I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT FOR THE UNALTERED DOGS. I FEEL IT IS ACTUALLY TOO LOW. I THINK THAT MAYBE A MODEL THAT YOU SHOULD GO AFTER WOULD BE THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, WHICH IS $100 OR PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO THAN THAT. SO TODAY I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND FOR THIS-- AND TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
MARIE CHAVOICHICK: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIE CHAVOICHICK AND I AM AN ANIMAL TRAINER FOR PETSMART IN ALHAMBRA AND AN ANIMAL COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA. BECAUSE WE HAVE THE WORD PETS IN OUR NAME AT PETSMART, WE ARE CONSTANTLY FIELDING ABANDONED ANIMALS AT THE STORE AND PEOPLE DROP OFF LOADS AND LITTERS OF KITTIES AND PUPPIES AND THEN WE ARE LEFT TO DEAL WITH THEM. THESE ANIMALS ARE TREATED LIKE REFUSE AND TOSSED AWAY. A RESPONSIBLE SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD ENDING THE NIGHTMARE OF OVER BREEDING. IN AUSTRIA, GERMANY AND DENMARK, THESE PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT. MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THE-- AFTER WORLD WAR II, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SUGGESTED, WHEN FARMERS' CROPS WERE FAILING, THAT THEY GROW PUPPIES AS A CASH CROP AND, IN FACT, THAT'S WHERE PUPPY MILLS IN THE SOUTH GOT THEIR START. THAT WAS-- I'M SURE EVERYONE IS VERY SORRY THAT HAPPENED, BUT THE FACT IS, IT MUSHROOMED INTO SOME HORRIBLE THING THAT, TO THIS DAY, HAS NOT STOPPED AND MANY OF THE PRACTICES IN THE SOUTH AND THE PUPPY MILLS GO ON UNABATED, JUST AS THEY STARTED IN 1940.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RORY FREEMAN, ELIZABETH CAVA, TINA CLARK. YES.
GRETCHEN RYAN: HI. MY NAME IS GRETCHEN RYAN. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: GET CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
GRETCHEN RYAN: OH, SORRY. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY DOG, A BELOVED COMPANION ANIMAL, WAS ATTACKED AND KILLED BY AN UNALTERED MALE AND I REALLY THINK IT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT DOGS AREN'T FIXED AND I ALSO AGREE THAT IT'S A WIN/WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. THANK YOU. IS DIANA LANNES HERE? IF NOT, LET ME CALL UP BETTY DENNIS SMITH AND LARRY MOSS. OKAY. YES. GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
ELIZABETH CAVA: MY NAME IS ELIZABETH CAVA, I'M A CITIZEN OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE AND THANK EVERYONE FOR CONSIDERING IT. I'M ALSO HERE FOR MY DOG, LILY, WHO WAS ATTACKED ABOUT FIVE YEARS BY AN UNALTERED GERMAN SHEPHERD WHILE WE WERE ON OUR WALK. IT WAS THE DOG'S THIRD ATTACK. I SUED THE OWNER CIVILLY AND IT WAS THE HIGHEST AWARD EVER GIVEN FOR A DOG ATTACK ON ANOTHER DOG. THAT DIDN'T HELP LILY VERY MUCH. SHE DIED ABOUT A YEAR LATER AS AN INDIRECT RESULT OF THIS ATTACK. I'M ALSO A SIX YEAR VOLUNTEER WITH BEST FRIENDS CAT NIPPERS. AND IT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK TO TEACH PEOPLE TO HUMANELY TRAP THE FERAL CATS WHO ARE WILD THAT YOU CAN'T PICK UP AND TAKE TO THE VET EASILY. YOU HAVE TO USE A TRAP. IT'S AMAZING AND IRONIC TO ME THAT PET OWNERS, WHO JUST CLIP A LEASH ONTO THEIR DOG'S COLLAR AND TAKE IT TO A VET WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY FREE SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS SIMPLY WON'T DO IT, SO I THINK THAT SHOWS THAT A MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER ORDINANCE IS DEFINITELY NEEDED AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR WHOEVER PUT THIS TOGETHER, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE ON IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. IS RORY FRIEDMAN HERE?
RORY FREEDMAN: THAT'S ME.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY, RORY AND THEN TINA CLARK. TINA CLARK. LARRY MOSS. CHRISTY MEANS. CHRISTY. BRUCE DARIAN. AND CAROLE PEARSON. OKAY.
RORY FREEDMAN: MY NAME IS RORY FREEDMAN AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE. AS A LONG-TIME ADVOCATE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS AND A PET LOVER, IT IS A WIN/WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED: THE ANIMALS, FOR RESPONSIBLE PET GUARDIANS AND ALSO FOR RESPONSIBLE PROFESSIONAL BREEDERS. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO WIN FROM THIS ORDINANCE ARE THE IRRESPONSIBLE BACKYARD BREEDERS. EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS A WINNER AND, AS A DOG WALKER, I SEE TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE DOGS THAT ARE EITHER ATTACKING OR ARE ATTACKED BY OTHER DOGS ARE ALWAYS THE DOGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY ATTRACT TROUBLE TO THEM AND THIS WILL RESOLVE THAT COMPLETELY AND I CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE COUNTRY AND PROVE ONCE AGAIN THAT L.A. IS A VERY PROGRESSIVE CITY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK, FORMER DIRECTOR BETTY SMITH. MANY YEARS AGO.
BETTY SMITH: FROM MANY YEARS AGO, THAT'S RIGHT. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS. THE YEAR BEFORE I CAME TO THE COUNTY, THERE WERE 120,000 DOGS AND CATS KILLED IN THE COUNTY SHELTERS. AND, IN MY FIRST FIVE YEARS, THROUGH MANY, MANY PROGRAMS, I WAS ABLE TO REDUCE THAT BY 60,000 AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S BEEN FURTHER REDUCED. I KNEW, WHEN I WAS WITH THE COUNTY, THAT THERE WAS SUCH AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS THAT WAS NEEDED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAD NOT YET COME, BUT THIS IS THE TIME AND THIS IS THE TIME AND THE IDEA THAT IT'S PROPER NOW TO DO THIS AND IT'S RIGHT AND I COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING WRITTEN THIS. THIS IS A VERY WELL WRITTEN CHANGE TO THE CODE. I THINK IT WILL BE-- CAN BE EASILY EXECUTED AND, AS I SAID, I COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB AND URGE YOUR "YES" VOTE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU, BETTY. OKAY.
BRUCE DARIAN: YES. MY NAME IS BRUCE DARIAN. I'M HERE TO REJECT OR OPPOSE THIS INTENDED STERILIZATION OF ANIMALS. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE. JUST GIVE-- JUST WAVE YOUR HANDS. [ GAVEL ]
BRUCE DARIAN: I FOUND MY DOG, ACTION, AROUND THE CORNER FROM UNION STATION ON BEAUJAY STREET ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO. HE GOES WITH ME WHEREVER I GO. I'M A CONTRACTOR, GENERAL CONTRACTOR. I'LL BE SPEAKING ON ANOTHER ISSUE LATER ON. I HOPE I CAN DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF ANIMALS. I KNOW, IN WORLD WAR II, GERMANY HAD A SPECIAL PLAN FOR PEOPLE THROUGH STERILIZATION AND OTHER MEANS TO CHANGE THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE. WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, I DON'T THINK WE'RE TAKING ENOUGH CONSIDERATION AS TO WHY IS IT THAT PUREBRED ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED TO NOT BE ALTERED AND YET ANY OTHER ANIMAL WILL HAVE TO BE ALTERED AND STERILIZED? WE'RE GOING TO BE THROWING OFF THE WHOLE DYNAMICS OF ANIMALS BY STERILIZING EVERY ANIMAL EXCEPT FOR PUREBREDS AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S CATERING TO THE TRADE OF BREEDING. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT OUT MORE. THERE ARE CERTAINLY ISSUES. I'M CERTAINLY NOT FOR KILLING ANIMALS, I LOVE ANIMALS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED MORE AS TO WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE WITH THIS THAN MERELY SAYING, LET'S STERILIZE ALL ANIMALS OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THEM. AND WE NEED TO GET MORE ANIMALS IN CERTAINLY IN SENIORS' HOMES AND EVERYWHERE ELSE WHERE THEY CAN BE LOVED AND ENJOYED. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. JUST WAVE YOUR HANDS. [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ARE YOU CHRISTIE AND YOU'RE CAROL. LARRY MOSS. HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY. AFTER YOU TWO, LET ME CALL UP EVELYN STEINBERG AND JUDITH BRECKA. OKAY. YES.
CHRISTY MEANS: THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS CHRISTY MEANS. CALIFORNIA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHOULD HAVE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE COUNTRY. WE ARE CONSIDERED, AS WESTERNERS, TO BE VERY PROGRESSIVE AND WE HAVE TRAILBLAZING IDEAS THAT AREN'T SET FORTH IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE OTHER TIMES, BEFORE OTHER AREAS. IT'S DRACONIAN, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, TO EUTHANIZE ANIMALS AS A WAY OF BIRTH CONTROL. IT'S NOT RIGHT. OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTRY ARE DOING THE SAME THING WITH SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND HAVING ANIMAL-- THE GOOD BREEDERS BE ABLE TO STILL CONTINUE TO BREED. IF 70% OF THE PEOPLE WOULD SPAY AND NEUTER THEIR ANIMALS, I AM TOLD THAT THE PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM WOULD BE OVER. THE PUBLIC WANTS NO KILL AND THE MAIN REASON THAT PEOPLE DON'T SPAY AND NEUTER IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.
CAROLE PEARSON: CAROLE PEARSON, PRESIDENT OF THE POD SQUAD ANIMAL RESCUE. WE CONCENTRATE ON THE PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS RUNNING LOOSE IN LOS ANGELES. WE TAKE LITTERS IN FROM BACKYARD BREEDERS WHO HAVE AN OOPS LITTER BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED. PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE. HELP WITH THEIR HELP. GET THESE ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED SO I CAN QUIT, SO I CAN GO OUT OF BUSINESS, SO I CAN SLEEP. I'M TIRED. I CAN'T DO THIS ANY MORE. I'VE BEEN DOING IT SIX YEARS. I'M TIRED. THIS HAS TO STOP. CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE, THOUGH, OR YOU'RE GOING TO GET CLUBS LIKE THIS ONE AND I WANT TO PUT THIS INTO EVIDENCE OR WHATEVER YOU PEOPLE CALL IT, WHERE THEY SAY THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER IS CREATED FOR THE SPORT OF DOG FIGHTING. CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE. I STILL HAVE 15 SECONDS. PLEASE PASS THE ORDINANCE. GET THE ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND LET THE RESCUE GROUPS QUIT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
VOICE: WHOO!
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE. [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME CALL UP DAN WELLE, ANTONIA ROCCA AND-- OKAY.
JUDITH BRECKA: HI. MY NAME IS JUDITH BRECKA. I'M AN ATTORNEY. I'VE BEEN AN ATTORNEY IN CALIFORNIA FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND I AM AN OWNER OF PUREBRED DOGS AND I'VE NEVER BRED A LITTER IN MY LIFE AND I OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE! IT'S ILL CONCEIVED! [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE. GIVE HER THE COURTEOUS...
JUDITH BRECKA: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THIS-- STOP-- WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO IS REALLY STOP THE GOOD QUALITY DOGS FROM BEING BRED. THE UNIVERSITY OF DAVIS IN DAVIS DID A STUDY WHICH SHOWED THAT THE DOGS THAT WERE LEAST LIKELY TO END UP IN SHELTERS AND EUTHANIZED WERE THOSE THAT CAME FROM A GOOD QUALITY HOBBY BREEDER. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WILL BE PENALIZED BY THIS ORDINANCE. NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE HEALTH ISSUES OF EARLY SPAY AND NEUTER, MAYBE YOU DON'T CARE THAT DOGS CAN GET BONE CANCER AND OTHER TYPES OF DISEASES BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH PLATE AND THE HORMONES THAT THEY'RE MISSING. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
EVELYN STEINBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I'M EVELYN STEINBERG WITH DELTA RESCUE. ITS PRESIDENT, LEO GRILLO, IS FOUNDER OF THE NO KILL MOVEMENT. PROPOSED ORDINANCE 10.20.1.185, REQUIRES THAT ALL DOGS OVER FOUR MONTHS OLD BE IMPLANTED WITH AN IDENTIFYING MICROCHIP. WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROPOSAL. THERE ARE ONLY TWO COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURER THE MAJORITY OF THESE MICROCHIPS. ONE OF COMPANIES MAKES A UNIVERSAL SCANNER. THE OTHER COMPANY MAKES CHIPS WHOSE NUMBERS ARE ENCODED SO THAT THE UNIVERSAL SCANNER CAN'T EVEN READ THEM. A SUPERIOR COURT IN CALIFORNIA HAS ORDERED A MICROCHIP MANUFACTURER TO NOTIFY ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING VETERINARIANS, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE UNITED STATES SHELTERS PRESENTLY USE A SCANNER THAT WILL NOT DETECT OR READ ITS MICROCHIPS. IN THE SAME CASE, THE PRESIDING JUDGE NOTED THAT THE MICROCHIPS CREATED AND I QUOTE, "A RISK OF GREAT IRREPARABLE HARM, SPECIFICALLY THE INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR PETS TO BE EUTHANIZED WHILE THEIR OWNERS BELIEVE THEM TO BE SAFE." ALSO, THE LARGEST MICROCHIP MANUFACTURER IN THE NATION IS CURRENTLY BEING SUED FOR MONOPOLISTIC MARKETING AND CONSPIRACY. THIS MICROCHIPPING MONOPOLY WILL FORCE EACH AND EVERY OWNER TO PAY AROUND $80 PER ANIMAL AND WILL GUARANTEE THEM ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT A HIGHER BILL AT THE VETERINARIAN AND ALLOWING THE MICROCHIP COMPANY TO GET RICHER. WHO IS TRULY BENEFITING FROM THIS PLAN? WE, AT DELTA RESCUE, PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. WE ARE ALL ABOUT SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND TO STOP ANIMALS FROM SUFFERING AND CARING FOR THE SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS. THIS LAW MAKES ANIMALS SUFFER. PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS LAW THAT FORCES OWNERS TO MICROCHIP THEIR ANIMALS. THEIR ALREADY OVERFLOWING ANIMAL SHELTERS WILL BE HEMORRHAGING WITH EVEN MORE UNWANTED PETS. WE BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WRAP IT UP.
EVELYN STEINBERG: ...CONCENTRATE ITS EFFORTS ON FREE SPAY AND NEUTERING. THIS ALONE WILL TAKE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH IF WE START NOW. THE SAD TRUTH IS, HOWEVER, BEFORE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, THE REASON THAT THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CANNOT PAY FOR LOW COST SPAY OR NEUTER IS BECAUSE...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DO YOU WANT TO WRAP IT UP.
EVELYN STEINBERG: ...THEY ALREADY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VETERINARIANS TO CARE FOR THE SICK OR INJURED ANIMALS UNFORTUNATELY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, BOARD. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: CAROL ESTERKIN. YES.
DIANE WELLE: MY NAME IS DIANE WELLE AND, FIRST OF ALL, I FEEL A LITTLE LIKE A CHRISTIAN TO THE LIONS. SITTING AMONGST THE ANIMAL RIGHTS INDIVIDUALS BACK HERE, WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS STANDING UP HERE IN THE SUPERVISORS AREA WHO COMES DOWN AND SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW WHY THE BREEDERS ARE HERE, THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE." WE DO HAVE A BUSINESS HERE. [ INTERJECTIONS ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE. GIVE HER COURTEOUS ATTENTION.
DIANE WELLE: WE DO HAVE BUSINESS HERE AND I AM NOT HERE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT MONEY. I AM NOT AN IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDER, ALTHOUGH THOSE PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I'M A BACKYARD BREEDER. I AM NOT. THE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT ARE NOT BEING UPHELD. WHEN THEY WERE PROPOSED, THE PROPOSALS THEN STATED THAT THE INCREASED INCOME FOR UNALTERED DOGS, DOG LICENSES INCREASE WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE PERSONNEL. I'M SORRY. I'M NERVOUS. HOWEVER, WE'RE AGAIN TOLD THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DO THE JOB. I KNOW THIS IS TRUE. I HAVE A LICENSED KENNEL. I PAID MY KENNEL LICENSE IN DECEMBER. THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN OUT TO INSPECT MY KENNELS. THEY DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO INSPECT THE KENNELS. WITH THIS LAW, BACKYARD BREEDERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR BREEDING MORE IN SECRET, THEY'RE GOING TO GO UNDERGROUND. THEY'LL CONTINUE TO SELL THEIR PUPPIES. THEY'LL CONTINUE TO EVADE YOUR OFFICERS. THEIR DOGS WILL GO ON TO BE BRED AND THEY'LL BECOME THE PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE. RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS HAVE ALWAYS TAUGHT RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP. I BROUGHT WITH ME TODAY TWO CONTRACTS THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVING OUT FOR MY PUPPIES SINCE 1997...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WRAP IT UP.
DIANE WELLE: ...AND CURRENT AND I'D LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST SEE WHAT A REPUTABLE BREEDER ASKS OF THEIR OWNERS. I REQUIRE THAT NO PUPPY OUT OF MY BREEDINGS GO TO ANY ANIMAL REGULATION AGENCY OR ANY RESCUE, THEY COME BACK TO ME.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
DIANE WELLE: RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS DO THIS. WE'RE WELL INFORMED, WE'RE WELL EDUCATED ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF SPAY AND NEUTER, WE ENCOURAGE IT. PUREBRED FANCIERS HAVE RISEN TO THE OCCASION WITH THE FORMATION OF RESCUE ORGANIZATION FOR ALMOST EVERY BREED IN THE STATE. WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY, WE ARE THE SOLUTION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO CALL UP ROBIN MATA AND JUDY FRISBEE. YES, MA'AM.
TOINETTE ROCCA: I'M TOINETTE ROCCA.
MALE VOICE: OW! OW! YES, YOU ARE! LET GO OF ME!
TOINETTE ROCCA: DON'T START MY TIME YET.
MALE VOICE: GET BACK! [ YELLING ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THAT ISSUE.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHY CAN'T WE BAR HIM FROM SPEAKING?
TOINETTE ROCCA: I HAVE GIVEN EACH ONE OF YOU A PACKET AND I'M URGING EACH ONE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HE'S NOT SCHEDULE TO SPEAK ON THIS.
TOINETTE ROCCA: ARE WE LISTENING?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ASK OUR COUNTY COUNSEL. OKAY. WE'LL LET YOU START OVER AGAIN. LET'S START YOUR TESTIMONY ALL OVER AGAIN.
TOINETTE ROCCA: OKAY. I'VE GIVEN EACH ONE OF YOU A PACKET BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ISN'T A LOT OF TIME. I WOULD URGE YOU TO READ THIS PACKET AND VOTE "NO" AT THIS TIME ON THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT. YOU ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH ON THE BOOKS. I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY READ SOMETHING FOR YOU HERE OF WHY THIS SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED AT THIS TIME. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE MEDICALLY UNSOUND. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I WANT YOU TO READ THIS. IT'S IN YOUR PACKET. IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE LENGTHY. MISGUIDED REGULATORY CONTROL. NOW, WE'RE NOT AGAINST SPAYING AND NEUTERING BUT I AM A VERY REPUTABLE BREEDER, I'M ALSO A LICENSED KENNEL, I ALSO RESCUE DOGS. I DO EVERYTHING. AND WE DO OBEDIENCE. WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS WE HAVE OUR DOGS SPAYED AND NEUTERED EXCEPT FOR THE ONES THAT WE USE FOR COMPETITION, AND I WILL NOT HAVE ANY OF MY DOGS SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT FOUR MONTHS OF AGE. MAKE YOURSELF AWARE, IT'S NOT CORRECT TO HAVE THAT DONE. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
TOINETTE ROCCA: PLEASE READ WHAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU IN YOUR PACKET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S A FEDERAL LAW THAT'S PENDING. I URGE YOU TO...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME ALSO CALL UP FLORENCE BELCHER. YES, MA'AM.
CAROL ESTERKIN: YES, MY NAME IS CAROL ESTERKIN AND I WOULD LIKE TO RELINQUISH MY TIME TO JUDY DANIELS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: JEREMY SCHUSTER. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. YOU'RE NEXT. MOVE THE MICROPHONE OVER.
ROBIN MATA: OKAY. MY NAME IS ROBIN MATA. AS A BOARD MEMBER OF A LOCAL BREED CLUB, I ASK YOU, WHAT CRITERIA IS A BREED CLUB APPROVED? WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A CLUB? WHERE ARE THE GUIDELINES TODAY FOR THOSE CLUBS? WILL THEY BE MADE UP AS WE GO ALONG OR AFTER THE LAW IS PASSED, THEREBY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR INTACT DOG OWNERS TO PROVE THEY ARE MEMBERS OF SUCH A CLUB? SINCE NONE WILL BE APPROVED AS OF THAT DATE, WE AGAIN WANT TO KNOW WHEN THAT INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE. I CAN ALSO STATE THAT NO REPUTABLE BREEDER THAT I KNOW ADVERTISES IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR ANY OTHER TYPES OF ADS, THEY ARE BY WORD OF MOUTH. [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE WAVE YOUR HAND BUT DON'T APPLAUD.
ROBIN MATA: ALL REPUTABLE BREEDERS THAT I KNOW, UNLESS THEY ARE SELLING A DOG FOR CONFORMATION TO A RESPONSIBLE PERSON, ONLY SELLS ON LIMITED REGISTRATIONS, WHICH ENTITLES THEM NOT TO BE BRED. THEY ALSO SELL ONLY ON SPAY AND NEUTER CONTRACTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.
JUDY FRISBEE: HI. MY NAME IS JUDY FRISBEE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SHELTER POPULATION DECREASED. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE STRAYS ON THE STREET REDUCED AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE VICIOUS DOG ATTACKS ELIMINATED. WHAT I OPPOSE IS LEGISLATION THAT'S IN EFFECTIVE. I DON'T SEE IN ANY WAY HOW THIS LEGISLATION IS GOING TO CHANGE THESE FACTS. IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS, CAT OWNERS, PET OWNERS OF ALL SORTS WILL CONTINUE, IF WE HAVE WHAT WAS SPOKEN EARLIER, 40% OF THE ANIMALS IN L.A. COUNTY ARE NOT LICENSED. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT FIGURE CAME FROM. WE NEED TO GO AFTER THOSE PEOPLE. THE MONEY THAT IS BEING SPENT NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION. THIS LEGISLATION ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THE ISSUES. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
FLORENCE BLECHER: I'M FLORENCE BLECHER.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HOLD ON ONE MINUTE, FLORENCE. JEREMY. IS TOINETTE ROCCA HERE? TOINETTE? SHE ALREADY SPOKE? KYM DELISI, K-Y-M AND BRIAN TRUITT.
SPEAKER: MAYOR, MR. TRUITT IS GOING TO YIELD HIS TIME TO ME.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. JUDY DANIELS. JUDY DANIELS.
FLORENCE BLECHER: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M ONE OF MR. YAROSLAVSKY'S CONSTITUENTS. HI, ZEV. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF DOG CLUBS, WHICH REPRESENTS ALL OF THE AKC CLUBS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WHEN DID MAN'S BEST FRIEND BECOME THE ENEMY? HE BECAME THE ENEMY DUE TO IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. IT IS NOT THE DOGS THEMSELVES WHO ARE AT FAULT. TO BASE THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ OR THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ IS ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE. THERE IS-- THAT IS A RURAL COUNTY, WE ARE AN URBAN COUNTY. IT IS AN INAPPROPRIATE MODEL TO USE FOR THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION. THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD NOT HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT AS THE OFFICERS WON'T GO INTO THE ROUGHER AREAS, WHICH IS WHERE THE PROBLEM EXISTS. I HAVE HERE, WHICH I HOPE THE BAILIFF WILL DISTRIBUTE, A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE ADVERSE AFFECTS OF EARLY SPAY AND NEUTER. WOULD YOU DO A HYSTERECTOMY ON A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD? IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ULTIMATELY. THE DOGS WILL NOT DEVELOP APPROPRIATELY OR PROPERLY. AS FOR MICROCHIPPING, AGAIN, TO USE A HUMAN MODEL, WE DON'T MICROCHIP PEOPLE. WE DON'T DO THE SAME. THERE ARE ADVERSE EFFECTS AND, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID EARLIER, THERE ARE CONFLICTING COMPANIES WHO DO NOT HAVE CONSISTENT READERS. ALL A.K.C. CLUBS FALL UNDER A.K.C.'S CODE OF ETHICS, SO THAT IS A PRIORITY IN EFFECT, THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR ANY A.K.C. CLUB APPLIES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO WRAP IT UP?
FLORENCE BLECHER: I URGE YOU TO NOT PASS THIS ORDINANCE. IT IS POORLY DRAFTED, IT IS INAPPROPRIATE AND IT WILL NOT HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. IS HERMINE STOVER-- MISS STOVER? [ INTERJECTIONS ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: IS STOVER HERE? OKAY. STOVER. JAKE SCHAEFFER. JAKE SCHAEFFER. DO YOU WANT TO COME UP, JAKE? OKAY. YES.
JEREMY SCHUSTER: HI, BOARD. MY NAME IS JEREMY SCHUSTER, I'M A MEMBER OF GOLDEN STATE ROTTWEILER CLUB. I'M ALSO THE INCORPORATING AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR ROTTWEILER RESCUE OF LOS ANGELES. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH DIRECTOR MAYEDA AND I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD HER FOR BEING SO RECEPTIVE AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION MANY OF THE CONSIDERATIONS AND INPUT THAT BOTH BREED GROUPS AND CODE OF ETHICS CLUBS LIKE MINE WERE ABLE TO PUT FORTH. I THINK THAT THE STATUTE, IF NECESSARY, BASED ON OUR OVERPOPULATION, IS CERTAINLY DUE TO BE APPROVED. HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE JUST A FEW CONCERNS FOR THE STATUTE AS IT'S PRESENTLY WORDED. AS IT IS PRESENTLY WORDED, THE STATUTE ALLOWS FOR AN UNALTERED DOG LICENSE TO BE DENIED ON THE BASIS OF A NEIGHBOR COMPLAINT. WE HAVE SOME CONCERN WITH OUR BREED AND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT NEIGHBORS WHO JUST WANT TO RID THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OF A PARTICULAR BREED OF DOG OR HAVE A NEIGHBOR COMPLAINT MAY ISSUE SOME COMPLAINT TO ANIMAL CONTROL AND WE WOULD ASK THAT THE WORD "SUBSTANTIATED" BE ADDED INTO THE STATUTE BEFORE THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT. WE THINK IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SUBSTANTIATE THE COMPLAINT OF A NEIGHBOR BEFORE DENYING A LICENSE. I'LL BE TAKING MR. TRUITT'S TIME, MADAM TIMEKEEPER. ADDITIONALLY, GOLDEN STATE ROTTWEILER CLUB AND OTHERS DO AGREE WITH EARLY SPAY AND NEUTER BUT NOT AT FOUR MONTHS. WE THINK THAT SIX MONTHS IS THE EARLIEST TIME THAT THAT SHOULD OCCUR. WE UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW BUT SUBMIT THAT THE STATUTE IS WORDED WHICH REQUIRES THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUFFERING GRAVE BODILY HARM OR SERIOUS BODILY HARM MAY JUST BE A LITTLE TOO STRINGENT. MR. MAYOR, WHEN WE ENDED THE FEBRUARY MEETING, YOU ASKED THE DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT, IN DRAFTING THIS ORDINANCE, WE DIDN'T PUNISH THOSE WHO WERE ALREADY LAW-ABIDING AND WE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SHOW COMMUNITY. I NOTE THAT THE FEE INCREASES GO ONLY FIVE DOLLAR OR 25% INCREASE FOR THE SPAYED DOG AND IT'S A DOUBLING OR A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE FOR THOSE GETTING AN UNALTERED DOG LICENSE. I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT NOT ANYONE CAN GET AN UNALTERED DOG LICENSE. WE ALREADY HAVE TO BE SHOWING OUR DOGS, MICROCHIPPING, REGISTERING, DOING A WHOLE LITANY OF THINGS, WHICH WE'RE HAPPY TO DO BUT IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE BEING TREATED DISPARATELY, EVEN GIVEN ALL OF THESE, YOU KNOW, OUTSTANDING EFFORTS THAT WE DO, IN MY SUBMISSION AND THE REVENUE CALCULATION IS THAT THIS WOULD, BASED ON 90,000 APPLICANTS, RAISE OVER A MILLION-FIVE, $450,000 OF WHICH WOULD BE USED FOR THE SPAY FUND AND I THINK THAT SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE CAN BE EASILY OBTAINED BY SHARING THE FEES EQUALLY AMONG THE PARTIES. IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE INCREASE BY "X" PERCENT FOR SPAYED DOGS, WE DO THE SAME FOR UNALTERED. IF WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN GET THE UNALTERED LICENSE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY COMPORTING WITH THE LAW, THEN I DON'T SEE THAT WE SHOULD BE PUNISHED DISPARATELY. AND LASTLY, ONE COMMENT ABOUT JUST THE FEE SCHEDULE, 10.90.010 REFERS TO SERVICE DOGS. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SERVICE DOG COMMUNITY AND THE DEFINITION IN THAT SECTION DOESN'T REALLY COMPORT WITH THE STATE LAW, SO WE WOULD JUST ASK THAT THAT AREA BE CHANGED TO JUST REFER TO THE STATE CODE FOR SERVICE DOGS RATHER THAN GO ON AND EXPAND THAT. I'VE SUBMITTED MANY OF THESE COMMENTS TO DIRECTOR MAYEDA. I DON'T TAKE ISSUE WITH HER. I'M SURE SHE'S TAKEN THEM INTO CONSIDERATION. I REALLY DO APPLAUD HER OFFICE FOR A FANTASTIC EFFORT THUS FAR AND OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE SOME OF THESE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN, GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS AND PUBLIC NOTICE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'VE HAD THUS FAR. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I APPLAUD YOU. I HOPE WE END UP WITH A BALANCED AND FAIR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MICHAEL PATTON. MICHAEL PATTON. MA'AM?
KIM DELISI: I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE HANDED OUT, AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING. WHEN ALL THIS STARTED...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
KIM DELISI: OH, I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS KIM DELISI. I LIVE IN LAKE LOS ANGELES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MARCIA FOR HER TIME AND MILLIE JONES ALSO BUT, AT THIS TIME, I DON'T REALLY SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AND THIS IS WHY. WHEN ALL THIS STARTED IN JANUARY, I WAS JUST WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN DOG. IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I HAVE SOMEHOW COME TO BE WORRIED MORE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY. A LOT OF EFFORT WENT INTO MAKING THIS A DOG FANCIER FRIENDLY ORDINANCE AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I CAN STILL SHOW MY DOG UNDER THIS ORDINANCE BUT, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, A GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE MAKING LAWS JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN. A LAW SHOULD ONLY BE MADE BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO ATTAIN A NECESSARY GOAL. THE GOAL HERE WAS TO CUT THE SHELTER POPULATION OF DOGS THAT HAD BEEN SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS OR FOUND RUNNING LOOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. WILL A MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER LAW LOWER THE SHELTER POPULATION? IT WAS ASSUMED, EVEN BY ME, THAT IF SO MANY DOGS ARE BEING KILLED IN SHELTERS, IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY. THIS IS AN ERRONEOUS CONCLUSION. NEARLY ALL DOGS IN THE SHELTER ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX MONTHS AND THREE YEARS. THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD HOMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN UP. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WRAP IT UP.
KIM DELISI: IRRESPONSIBLE AND/OR UNEDUCATED OWNERS ARE WHAT HAPPENED. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO BE GOOD OWNERS, THEY DO NOT KNOW OR CARE WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL NOT ONLY SOLVE THE OVERPOPULATION BUT ALSO THE DANGEROUS DOG PROBLEM. I WANT EDUCATION IN ANIMAL CONTROL. NEGLIGENT OWNERS NEED TO ATTEND DOGGY SCHOOL TO LEARN THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. NEW PROSPECTIVE OWNERS NEED TO BE EDUCATED AS TO WHAT TYPE OF DOG WOULD BE BEST FOR THEM. CHILDREN AND ADULTS NEED TO BE TRAINED HOW TO APPROACH A DOG THEY DON'T KNOW AND HOW TO AVOID DOG BITES. AND ANIMAL CONTROL NEEDS TO ENFORCE THE LEASH LAW. EVERY INSTANCE WE HEARD OF IS BECAUSE THE DOG IS OFF LEASH. AND YET, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I NEVER EVER, EVER SEE TRUCKS GOING UP AND DOWN THE STREETS. NOT EVER.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WE HAD SWEEPS THERE.
KIM DELISI: SWEEPS IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE THERE, AND THAT IS HOW YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS WE'RE TRYING TO PUT INTO-- I AM PERSONALLY TRYING TO PUT IN THIS NEW BUDGET THAT'S COMING UP BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY BIG ISSUE THAT DEALS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
KIM DELISI: YES, IT IS AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT TAKES TOO MUCH MONEY TO DO IT PROPERLY, AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS VERY MUCH TIED TO THIS BUT SPAY/NEUTER IS NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE 80% OF THE DOGS THAT ARE BETWEEN SIX MONTHS AND THREE YEARS. THAT'S BAD OWNERSHIP. AND ANIMAL CONTROL CAN LEAD THE WAY BY EDUCATING AND ENFORCING THE RULES AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AND, IF WE HAD THAT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE DOGS UNALTERED RUNNING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.
JUDY DANIELS: MADAM TIME KEEPER, I BELIEVE I HAVE TWO MINUTES WITH CAROL ESTERKIN'S TIME. CAROL ESTERKIN. YES, SHE GAVE HER TIME TO ME. THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR ANTONOVICH AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS JUDY DANIELS. I AM A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB AND CURRENTLY LEGISLATIVE LIAISON FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY KENNEL CLUB. WE ASK YOU TO POSTPONE ADOPTION OF THIS PROPOSAL IN ITS CURRENT FORM AND FORM A TASK FORCE TO HELP CLARIFY QUESTIONABLE ISSUES IN THIS PROPOSAL, PARTICULARLY AS THEY REFER TO COMPETITION DOGS. AND I DID SPEAK WITH MARCIA ABOUT THIS AND I APPRECIATE HER INPUT AND HER CONCERN. ONE, WHAT DEFINES AN APPROPRIATE REGISTRY? THERE ARE 20 MULTIPLE BREED REGISTRIES IN EXISTENCE TODAY. WHAT CRITERIA DETERMINE WHETHER A REGISTRY IS VALID? WHAT ABOUT DOGS FROM FOREIGN REGISTRIES? TWO, HOW MANY DOG CLUBS EXIST IN L.A. IN WHICH MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL DOG OWNERS? MANY ARE NOT. HOW MANY OF THESE CLUBS HAVE CODES OF ETHICS? YES, THEY ARE UNDER AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB'S RULES BUT MANY DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC CODES OF ETHICS IN ADDITION THEMSELVES. AS A POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE, WHAT MIGHT BE THE STREET PRICE FOR A CLUB MEMBERSHIP CARD? AND HOW WILL THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S VALID OR FRAUDULENT? WHAT FINANCIAL IMPACT WILL L.A. COUNTY INCUR TO AUDIT AND UPDATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THE DATA REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST TWO QUESTIONS? THE PROPOSED TWO CLERICAL WORKERS CANNOT PROBABLY HANDLE THE NECESSARY DATA. REGARDING THE NARRATIVE PRESENTED TO YOU FOR FUNDING EIGHT NEW POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT, WHAT AUDITOR-CONTROLLER IN HIS OR HER RIGHT MIND WOULD EVER PROJECT A HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLIANCE RATE WITH A 200% INCREASE IN FEES? I'M AN ACCOUNTANT, ALSO. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. NUMBER SIX, WHAT OR WHO IS THE FOUND ANIMAL FOUNDATION? I REALIZE WE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT EARLIER BUT A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVIDES ZERO INFORMATION. WHAT CONDITIONS, IF ANY, WILL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BE REQUIRED TO MEET BY ACCEPTING THIS DONATION? THE HEAD OF ANIMAL-- A.K.C.'S ANIMAL RECOVERY PROGRAM ALSO VALUES THIS DONATION AT A MINIMUM OF $10 MILLION. THERE ARE TOO MANY NAIVE ASSUMPTIONS IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR IT TO BE ADOPTED. IN MANY U.S. CITIES TODAY, CAMPAIGNS TO END PET OVERPOPULATION HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE DEMAND FOR DOGS FAR OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY. IN FACT, IN MANY OF THESE CITIES, THEY FILL THEIR EMPTY RUNS BY MOVING DOGS AROUND FROM ONE REGION TO ANOTHER OR FROM ONE SHELTER TO ANOTHER WITHIN REGIONS. IT'S CALLED HUMANE RELOCATION. UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL SHELTERS DO IT THIS WAY. THEY INSTEAD IMPORT DOGS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. SEVERAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS IN NORTHWEST KNOWINGLY ACCEPT DOGS FROM TAIWAN, PUERTO RICA AND MEXICO. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY OF OUR EXCESS PUPPIES ARE BEING SMUGGLED ACROSS THE BORDER RIGHT NOW FROM MEXICO? AGAIN, WE RECOMMEND A FORMATION OF THE TASK FORCE. LET'S WORK TOGETHER. I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH MARCIA MAYEDA TO HELP MAKE SURE THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THE PUREBRED DOG FANCY AND THAT IT DOESN'T WIPE US OFF THE MAP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YOUR NAME.
HERMINE STOVER: FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS HERMINE STOVER. I'M THE SECRETARY OF RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATES AND, AS OF TODAY, I REALIZE THAT I'M A MONSTER FOR MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF BREEDING AND SHOWING PUREBRED DOGS. I HAVE NEVER NEUTERED A DOG, NEITHER A MALE NOR A FEMALE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENTAL LITTER AND NOT ONE OF MY PUPPIES HAS EVER WOUND UP IN A SHELTER. ALL OF MY DOGS, BY CONTRACT, IF THEY'RE EVER UNWANTED OR UNKEEPABLE BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM, REVERT TO MY OWNERSHIP. I GET RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. I PURCHASE THEM BACK VERY OFTEN, IF THAT HAPPENS. IT'S HAPPENED TWICE, BOTH OF THOSE TIMES IN THE CASE OF DIVORCE. I THINK THAT THE INCURSION INTO PERSONAL LIFE, TO MANDATE SOMETHING LIKE SPAYING AND NEUTERING, WHICH CAN BE SUBSTANTIATED AS BEING EXTRAORDINARILY HARMFUL TO A YOUNG PUPPY'S LIFE IN THAT IT INCREASES THE CHANCE OF BONE CANCER, PROSTATE BLADDER CANCER AND URINARY INCONTINENCE, WHICH IS A MAJOR REASON FOR DOG SURRENDER TO A SHELTER. THIS IS UNSPEAKABLE. IT ALSO PRODUCES A DEPRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEM. AND, YOU KNOW, NO DOG GETS OUT OF A LOCKED GATE USING THEIR GENITALS TO ESCAPE. IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE DOG IS UNNEUTERED THAT AN UNNEUTERED DOG IS RUNNING LOOSE. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST REMINDED OF SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE SAID, IF I MAY HAVE ONE MORE SECOND, GLOBAL SAID, "TELL A BIG LIE OFTEN ENOUGH AND IT BECOMES THE TRUTH". WELL, THAT'S THE MONSTER THAT I AM.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MARCO CARDENAS. MARCO CARDENAS. YES, SIR.
JAKE SCHAEFFER: MY NAME IS JAKE SCHAEFFER. I HAVE OWNED, SHOWN AND BRED PIT BULL TERRIERS FOR 25 YEARS, ALONG WITH MY WIFE, AND WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HERE IS NOT THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE DRAWN UP THIS ORDINANCE ARE NECESSARILY HAVE BAD INTENTIONS BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY TO HELL BEING PAVED OFTEN WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND THE FACT THAT I'VE GOT MISGIVINGS ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO ENFORCE THIS LAW AND WHO IS GOING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO COMES UNDER THIS ORDINANCE. IF IT'S SOME OF THE SO-CALLED ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF SOME BREEDS THAT THEY DON'T APPROVE OF, INCLUDING PIT BULL TERRIERS AND ROTTWEILERS, AMONGST OTHERS, AND I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM OF IMPLEMENTATION. AND I ALSO HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC STRIFE AND PREJUDICE HERE BY SOME LADY WHO SPOKE FOR THE ORDINANCE WHO SAID, "WHAT ABOUT THIS 36 STREET PIT BULL CLUB? WE CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT." I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS THEY OUGHT TO DECIDE AHEAD OF TIME BUT YOU OUGHT TO FIND OUT, WELL, JUST WHO IS IT THAT WANTS TO HAVE A CLUB TO DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE WITH AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIERS AND OTHER TERRIER BREEDS THAT ARE INDEED RAMBUNCTIOUS, SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS THAT EVERYBODY SHOULDN'T HAVE. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS ORDINANCE ADDRESSES THE DIFFERENCES AMONGST BREEDS VERY WELL HERE OR THE CONCERNS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST THEM IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ANIMALS THAT THEY DO TAKE DECENT CARE OF.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. ARE YOU MICHAEL?
MICHAEL PATTON: YES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. IS SHAWN DALY, SHAWN DALY. YES, MICHAEL.
MICHAEL PATTON: MY NAME IS MICHAEL PATTON, I REPRESENT . I'M A DOG EXPERT. I HAVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOLOGY AND I WOULD LIKE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE MAYBE TWO MINUTES TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT GENETICS AND AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF DOGS. I'M A RECENT IMMIGRANT TO CALIFORNIA. I CAME HERE FROM-- ACROSS THIS GREAT SUPPOSEDLY FREE LAND AND ONLY TO REALIZE THAT, ONCE I GOT HERE WITH MY TWO FRIENDS IN TOW, THE ONLY TWO THINGS THAT I REALLY BROUGHT WITH ME ARE THESE TWO DOGS. TO REALIZED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CRIMINALIZED AND I CAN'T HAVE THEM HAVE THEIR WHOLE BODY PARTS. THEY'RE GOING TO BE CRIMINALIZED FOR HAVING ALL THE PARTS THAT THEY ARE BORN WITH. THIS IS WHAT THESE PEOPLE WANT. THIS IS A VICIOUS ATTACK ON DOGS, ON DOG OWNERSHIP, ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF PEOPLE AND THEIR OWN RIGHTS. THIS IS NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH-- THIS DOES NOT BENEFIT DOG OWNERS. WHAT IT BENEFITS IS THIS ORGANIZATION AND THEIR FUNDING. THEY'VE MANUFACTURED THIS CRISIS. THIS IS WHAT DOG CONTROL-- THIS IS WHAT THESE TYPE OF AGENCIES DO. THEY MANUFACTURER A CRISIS SO THAT THEY CAN GET FUNDING. THIS IS WHY WE ARE IN IRAQ, BECAUSE WE HAD A CRISIS THAT WAS MANUFACTURED, IT WAS SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
MICHAEL PATTON: I LEFT ALL MY POSSESSIONS-- LET ME SAY ONE MORE THING. THE GREATEST THREAT TO DEMOCRACY IS NOT COMMUNISM, IT'S NOT TERRORISTS, IT'S NOT MUSLIMS. IT'S SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE WE ALLOW THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION TO GO THROUGH. ALSO, YOU'RE RESTRICTING THE BREEDING TO PUREBRED DOGS. WHAT THAT DOES IS RESTRICT BREEDING TO INBREEDING. THAT IS NOT GOOD. IN ANY OTHER TYPE OF DOMESTIC ANIMAL, THEY USE CROSS BREEDING, WHICH PRODUCES HYBRID VIGOR. INBREEDING DEPRESSING-- YOU'RE RESTRICTING THE BREEDING TO INFERIOR DOGS. PUREBREDS ARE INFERIOR. AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS DOGS LIKE THIS CAN NO LONGER EXIST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PUREBRED AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE PARTS THAT THEY WERE BORN WITH. ONE MORE QUESTION AND I'LL BE DONE. MISS MAYEDA, HOW MANY ANIMALS HAVE YOU OVERSEEN THE EXTERMINATION OF OR UNDER YOUR WATCH WHILE YOU'VE BEEN AT THE SHELTER? NO, THIS IS A VALID QUESTION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED WHEN WE CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION. IF YOU SIT DOWN AFTERWARDS, THAT QUESTION...
MICHAEL PATTON: I HAVE NEVER KILLED A DOG, ALL RIGHT? I'M A REGULAR DOG OWNER WHO CARES ABOUT DOGS AND WHO CARES ABOUT FREEDOM AND I'M NOT SOMEBODY, A SPAY AND NEUTER NAZI WHO WANTS TO MAKE THIS INTO A CRISIS...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHAEL.
MICHAEL PATTON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. JAY FAHEY AND MICHELLE BLACKOWL, MICHELLE BLACKOWL.
MICHAEL PATTON: YOU WORK IN A SHELTER, YOU'RE A DOG MURDERER!
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND CLAYTON GOO, CLAYTON GOO. [ GAVEL ] PLEASE. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SIT DOWN, WE'LL HAVE TO ORDER YOU OUT. IS CLAYTON GOO HERE? IS JAY FAHEY-- FAYLY-- IS MICHELLE BLACKOWL? OKAY. MICHELLE IS COMING UP. AND CLAYTON GOO. COMING UP. OKAY. YES, MA'AM.
SHAWN DALEY: THANK YOU. I HAVE PROVIDED...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SHAWN DALEY: MY NAME IS SHAWN DALY. I HAVE PROVIDED WRITTEN TALKING POINTS TO EVERY POINT I'M GOING TO BRING UP RIGHT NOW. I CAN PROVIDE YOU A COPY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SHE'LL PASS THEM OUT.
SHAWN DALEY: THIS ORDINANCE SHOWS A TOTAL LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPOSED REGULATORY COMMUNITY. PURE BREED REGISTERED DOGS CANNOT COMPLY WITH SECTION 10.08.095. IF I OWN A BLUE WEIMARANER, WHICH IS REGISTERED, THAT DOG CANNOT BE SHOWN. BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE SHOWN, IT CANNOT BE FINISHED. BECAUSE IT IS BLUE, THE BREED CLUBS WILL CONSIDER ME UNETHICAL. PLEASE DO NOT LET BREED CLUB POLITICS SET THE LAW OF THE LAND AND THAT IS WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS DOING. ALSO, IT IS ARBITRARY. THERE IS NO REASON TO ASSUME THAT A PUREBRED OR A BREED CLUB SHOULD BE HELD TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAN A NONREGISTERED DOG. AND A NONREGISTERED DOG CAN BE A PURE BREED. IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS ORDINANCE, AS MS. MAYEDA POINTED OUT, IT CAN PRODUCE MUTTS. I CAN BREED A TOSA TO A FILA AND PRODUCE SOME VERY, VERY DANGEROUS MUTTS. THIS REQUIRES A UNFAIR PENALIZATION OF LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES, WHICH INCLUDE OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES. IT IS CHEAPER TO BUY AN UNREGISTERED THAN A REGISTERED DOG. THOSE PEOPLE WHO WENT OUT IN GOOD FAITH AND BOUGHT A PERFECTLY LEGAL DOG, WHICH AS OF RIGHT NOW HAS FULL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AND WHICH CAN BE BRED WILL BE NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO DO UNDER THIS LAW. I BELIEVE THAT COULD BE A VIOLATION, DEPENDING HOW THE SITUATION SETS UP OF THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. WE DID BRIAN TRUITT AND SHAY TUTTLE AND CLAYTON IS HERE. OKAY. YOU'RE ON.
MARCO CARDENAS: MY NAME IS MARCO CARDENAS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF PIT BULLS AND ALL DOGS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M AGAINST KILLING OF THE ANIMALS. I'M ALSO AGAINST ON INFLICTING EXTRA PAIN ON THE ANIMALS. THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT, FOR WHICH I BELIEVE IN FOR WHICH PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME BELIEVE THAT, TOO. I HOPE THAT YOU DO NOT PASS THIS LAW. I HOPE THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE WORDS THAT I'M TELLING YOU. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE, THE SAFETY OF ANIMALS. IF YOU'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, THEN I FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS. WE SHOULD LOOK MORE INTO IT BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION ON EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE ARE DOING, AS US BEING UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND OWNERS OF PIT BULLS OR ANY OTHER BREED OF ANIMAL, NOT JUST DOGS AND CATS. SO I BEG YOU NOT TO ALLOW THIS TO PASS UNTIL IT'S LOOKED MORE INTO. BECAUSE IF IT DOES, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS FAR AS SAFETY GOES THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT YOU DON'T WANT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ]
JOHN FAHEY: HI. I'M JOHN FAHEY, I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, AND COMING INTO THIS ROOM-- EXCUSE ME. COMING INTO THIS-- COMING INTO THIS ROOM, I NOTICED ON A PLAQUE IN THE HALL THAT SAID "CHURCHILL, CHAMPION OF FREEDOM." I REALLY FEEL-- I'M SORRY, MR. YAROSLAVSKY, I'M ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I FEEL THAT OUR FREEDOM IS REALLY BEING TAKEN FROM US. FOR ME TO HAVE A DOG THAT I CAN'T CHOOSE IF I WANT TO SPAY OR NEUTER, EVEN THOUGH I'M A CONCERNED DOG OWNER AND A GOOD DOG OWNER, TO ME, IT'S LIKE LIVING IN A GESTAPO. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE STATE DID NOT ACCEPT THIS ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. AND ALSO, I'M AN ANIMAL LOVER, BUT I'M NOT A ANIMAL ACTIVIST. I'M A VEGETARIAN BY CHOICE BUT I DON'T TELL PEOPLE NOT TO EAT MEAT. AND I REALLY JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT WE'RE BEING FORCED TO SPAY OR NEUTER A DOG AGAINST OUR WILL. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.
MICHELLE BLACKOWL: HI. MY NAME IS MICHELLE BLACKOWL CHAVEZ AND I DIDN'T PLAN ON SPEAKING TODAY, SO I REALLY HAVE NOTHING PREPARED. I AM AN OWNER OF AN AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER AND I ALSO HAVE AM STAFFS. AFTER HEARING MARCIA, YOU KNOW, I CAN BASICALLY AGREE WITH MOST OF THE BILL BUT, THEN AGAIN, I'M THINKING THAT THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THIS BILL IS IT'S BASICALLY PIT BULL THIS, PIT BULL THAT, YOU KNOW, DANGEROUS DOGS, PIT BULLS. AND THE EXAMPLE THAT I WAS GOING TO LET YOU KNOW IS I WAS IN THE BATHROOM EARLIER AND THREE OF THE PEOPLE OVER HERE WERE IN THE BATHROOM AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT "I DON'T KNOW WHY THOSE PEOPLE SHOWED UP. THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE." AND THE ONE LADY LOOKED OVER, I THINK HER NAME IS BETTY SMITH, SHE LOOKED OVER AND SAID, "WHAT? WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" "OH, THOSE PIT BULL BREEDERS, THOSE PIT BULL PEOPLE. THIS DOESN'T EVEN MATTER TO THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE, THOSE BREEDERS." AND I'M JUST WORRIED THAT THIS BILL SAYS "ALL" BUT HOW EASY IS IT GOING TO BE FOR A PIT BULL OWNER OR AN AM STAFF PERSON TO GET THESE EXEMPTIONS? I SHOW DOGS. I'LL GET THE EXEMPTION BUT HOW EASY IS IT GOING TO BE FOR ME TO GET THAT? A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP PIT BULLS, ROTTWEILERS, GERMAN SHEPHERDS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BILL THAT ORIGINALLY COVERED ALL THOSE BREEDS. YOU KNOW, IT JUST-- IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD AND I HEAR PLENTY OF PIT BULL TODAY AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS, ALSO, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES, SIR.
CLAYTON GOO: HELLO. MY NAME IS CLAYTON GOO, I'M HERE ON BEHALF-- AS A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER. THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT I FEEL IS GREAT FOR ALL PET OWNERS BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ADDRESSED HERE. PUBLIC SAFETY, OVERPOPULATION OF THESE DOGS, A LOT OF THESE DOGS IN THE SHELTER AND I DON'T THINK THE SPAY AND NEUTER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HELP TO ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM. I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO HELP IS ACTUALLY BY ENFORCEMENT THROUGH ANIMAL CONTROL AND ENFORCING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IRRESPONSIBLE, THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE OVERPOPULATION OF DOGS, THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH DOGS GETTING LOOSE AND BEING OVER BRED AND IT'S THROUGH IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS. AND I THINK, BY PASSING THIS ORDINANCE, YOU WILL BE ACTUALLY PUNISHING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE RATHER THAN IRRESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES, SIR. [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ]
SHAY TUTTLE: MY NAME IS SHAY TUTTLE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DO YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN?
SHAY TUTTLE: NO. I'M GOING TO GIVE MY TIME TO NILES HERE.
NILE YUMANI: GOOD AFTERNOON, YOUR HONOR. NILE YUMANI, RESIDENT OF GLENDALE COMMUNITY. I'M AN ATTORNEY LOCALLY. I'VE GOT A BACKGROUND WHERE MY FAMILY HAS PUREBRED SHOW DOGS FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND I'VE GOT MANY FRIENDS IN THE RESCUE BUSINESS, SO I SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, AS AN ATTORNEY, I NEED TO BRING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION SOME LEGAL CONCERNS THAT I HAVE WHICH I'M SURE WILL ARISE IN THE FUTURE. NUMBER ONE, THE SPAY AND NEUTERING CLAUSE WILL CREATE SEVERE FIFTH AMENDMENT TAKING ISSUES AS WELL AS EQUAL PROTECTION ISSUES. YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE FILING ACTIONS IN THE COURT THAT WILL RAISE THE QUESTION, WHY ISN'T THIS APPLIED TO OTHER ANIMALS, CAT, FISH, BIRDS, PETS, HORSES, GOATS, ET CETERA? IT MAY SOUND FUNNY BUT THAT'S THE LEGAL REALITY. SECOND, THE REQUIREMENT TO JOIN AN ASSOCIATION OR AN ORGANIZATION WILL RISE CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION PROBLEMS. IT'S ILLEGAL AND IMPERMISSIBLE TO REQUIRE A CITIZEN TO JOIN ANY ORGANIZATION AS A PART OF ANY LEGAL ACTIVITY. THIRD, THE REQUIREMENT TO DISCLOSE IDENTITY OF CUSTOMERS WILL RAISE RIGHT OF PRIVACY AND RIGHT TO CONTRACT CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT WILL CREATE REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VALIDITY OF THIS LAW. FINALLY, AS A CITIZEN, I THINK THE BOARD OUGHT TO BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE SOME VERY SERIOUS FINANCIAL LEGAL LIABILITY ISSUES THE COUNTY WILL BE EXPOSED TO IF THEY PASS THIS LAW AND FOUND TO BE WRONG. CURRENTLY, THERE'S A FEDERAL COURT CASE ALREADY FILED DEALING WITH THESE PRECISE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AND THAT WAS FILED JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THAT REMAINS TO BE LITIGATED. I HEARD ONE LADY SAY THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY $100,000 GROSS SALES EVERY WEEK JUST IN THE NEWSPAPER ALONE. THAT COMES OUT TO BE ABOUT $5.2 MILLION A YEAR, ABOUT 10 MILLION EVERY TWO YEARS, 15 MILLION EVERY THREE YEARS. IF THIS LAW IS PASSED WITHOUT CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER AND THE COUNTY'S PROVEN TO BE WRONG, THE COUNTY FACES SEVERE SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL EXPOSURE, ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 10 TO 15 MILLION DOLLARS. SO MY SUGGESTION TO THE BOARD WOULD BE TO DEFER TO THE FEDERAL COURT ACTION, LET THE FEDERAL COURT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES ARE SATISFIED OR NOT AND THEN FOLLOW WHATEVER GUIDANCE THE FEDERAL COURT ISSUES RATHER THAN TRYING TO GO IT ON ITS OWN. THERE ARE VERY VALID CONCERNS ON BOTH SIDES, YOUR HONOR, AND I THINK, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO VALID AND SO IMPORTANT, WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE MUST BE SURE TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF BOTH SIDES, SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. OKAY. MOTION BY YAROSLAVSKY, SECONDED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. ON THE LAST POINT, ASKING COUNTY COUNSEL THE ISSUE OF THIS OUGHT TO BE DEFERRED TO THE FEDERAL COURT, COULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
RAYMOND G. FORTNER, JR.: MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'VE ASKED MY STAFF. WE'RE UNAWARE OF THE CASE THAT'S BEING REFERRED TO AND WE'LL LOOK INTO IT BUT, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE ORDINANCE IS BASED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL EXERCISE OF THE COUNTY'S POLICE POWER.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND COULD YOU RESPOND TO THE ISSUE OF THE LICENSE FEE BEING PROPOSED.
RAYMOND G. FORTNER, JR.: I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE QUESTION WAS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME ASK MARCIA. RELATIVE TO THE LICENSE FEE BEING SUGGESTED IN THE PROPOSAL.
MARCIA MAYEDA: I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR THE FULL QUESTION?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE LICENSE FEE BEING PROPOSED.
MARCIA MAYEDA: MY COMMENTS ON THAT? HOW WE ARRIVED AT THAT FIGURE WAS WE ESTIMATED THE COST OF ENFORCING THIS PROGRAM AND SPREAD THAT OUT AMONG THE UNALTERED DOG LICENSES. THIS FORMULA WAS REVIEWED BY THE AUDITOR-CONTROLLER AND FOUND TO BE REASONABLE. THE $60-- YOU'VE HEARD COMMENTARY THAT IT'S NOT HIGH ENOUGH AND OTHERS THAT IT'S TOO HIGH. WE FEEL IT'S REASONABLE BECAUSE, IN AREAS WHERE IT'S HIGHER, IT'S BECAUSE THE SPAY/NEUTER IS VOLUNTARY THERE AND THEY USE A HIGHER LICENSE FEE IN ORDER TO TRY TO GAIN PEOPLE TO VOLUNTARILY COMPLY. IT'S NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL. OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WILL JUST PAY THE HIGHER DOLLAR AND YOU CONTINUE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. $60 WE FEEL IS REASONABLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING ANIMALS. IT'S NOT AS HIGH AS WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED WHEN THIS WAS BREED SPECIFIC AND THAT FEE, AS YOU RECALL, THAT WAS $150. SO IT'S DROPPED BY MORE THAN HALF AND SHOWING DOGS IS A HOBBY, JUST LIKE FISHING AND BOATING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES WE CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND OFTENTIMES THERE'S COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE WHETHER THEY ENGAGE IN THOSE BEHAVIORS AND HOBBIES AND MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THERE'S A QUESTION RELATIVE TO HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE PUT TO SLEEP IN THIS PAST YEAR.
MARCIA MAYEDA: LAST YEAR, 18,800 DOGS WERE KILLED IN OUR SHELTERS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HOW MANY?
MARCIA MAYEDA: 18,800 IN ONE YEAR.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: 18,800. AND IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS?
MARCIA MAYEDA: IT'S GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT EACH YEAR, SO YOU COULD FIGURE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 A YEAR.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND THE ISSUE OF... [ INTERJECTIONS ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE. ON THE ISSUE OF PROVIDING REDUCED FEES FOR SPAYING, NEUTERING FOR SENIORS AND LOWER ECONOMIC QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, WHAT PROGRAMS WOULD YOU BE INSTITUTING?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WELL, WHAT WE PLAN TO DO AT THE BEGINNING, IT WOULD BE A TWO PRONGED APPROACH. ONE WOULD BE TO ADD THREE ADDITIONAL VETERINARIANS TO OUR DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THE LOW COST SPAY/NEUTERS TO PEOPLE WHO COME TO US FOR ASSISTANCE. THAT WILL STILL BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN OBTAIN THE SERVICE BUT WHAT WE WILL ALSO DO IS OFFER VOUCHERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $50 FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE TO THEIR PRIVATE VETERINARIANS IF THEY CHOOSE TO-- OR IF THEY PREFER TO HAVE THE SURGERY PERFORMED THERE. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER HUMANE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY WANT TO ASSIST US WITH THIS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND, AS DONATIONS AND FUNDING COME IN, WE'LL PROVIDE THOSE AS WELL.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION, HAVE WE-- ARE WE ABLE TO UTILIZE OR, LET'S SAY, OUR FACILITIES AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY SUCH CENTERS WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON THIS ISSUE?
MARCIA MAYEDA: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT MIGHT HAVE FACILITIES FOR US AND FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN PARTNER TOGETHER ON THAT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HAVE WE EVER CONSIDERED PROVIDING CLASSES ON ANIMAL LAWS AND CARE AT-- FOR THOSE WHO ADOPT THE ANIMALS?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WE'VE CONSIDERED IT. THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION ALREADY. WE GO INTO THE SCHOOLS, WE GO TO COMMUNITY EVENTS, WHEREVER WE'RE INVITED, WE GO AND WE SPEAK. THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF OUTREACH DONE BY ALL THE ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT ANIMALS. THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T HEAR THE MESSAGE. I WAS JUST TALKING TO A VETERINARIAN THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID HE TRIES TO CONVINCE HIS CLIENTS TO SPAY AND NEUTER THEIR DOGS. HE SEES THE CURTAIN GO UP OVER THEIR EYES. THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT. SO, MANY TIMES, NO MATTER WHAT YOU TELL PEOPLE, THEY WON'T ENGAGE IN THAT BEHAVIOR THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO. THAT'S WHY THIS ORDINANCE IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF EDUCATION, WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT BUT WE NEED ANOTHER APPROACH, WE NEED SOMETHING TO HELP US KEEP THIS TREND MOVING WHERE WE CAN REDUCE THE THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY OF THESE STRAY ANIMALS ON THE STREET AND THE OVERPOPULATION IN THE SHELTERS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DO WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO ADOPT THE ANIMALS THAT ARE IN SHELTERS?
MARCIA MAYEDA: YES, WE DO.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THAT GOES WITH THE-- WHAT DO YOU GIVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT COMES IN AND ADOPTS AN ANIMAL?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FLIERS AND ALSO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION MADE A $15,000 GIFT TO THE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR AND PURCHASED D.V.D.S ABOUT TRAINING YOUR ADOPTED DOG, SO EACH ADOPTER GETS A FREE D.V.D. THAT GOES HOME WITH THEM AND TRAINS THEM IN ALL ASPECTS OF MAKING AN ANIMAL A VALUED AND RELIABLE PART OF THEIR FAMILY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: COULD WE ALSO IMPLEMENT A MANDATORY ANIMAL TRAINING COURSE SIMILAR TO OUR TRAFFIC SCHOOL FOR THOSE ANIMAL LAW VIOLATORS? [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. [ GAVEL ]
MARCIA MAYEDA: WE'VE CONSIDERED THAT. WE HAVEN'T FOUND A MODEL THAT WORKS. OTHER AREAS HAVE TRIED THAT. THEY'RE VERY COST PROHIBITIVE AND WE DON'T GET A LOT OF COMPLIANCE. WE'D CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND TRY TO DEVELOP A MODEL AND COME BACK WITH YOU. MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOME AREAS TO MAKE IT WORK...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO ANOTHER REVIEW AND MAKE A REPORT BACK FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ACTION.
MARCIA MAYEDA: OKAY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE CRITICS SAY THE ORDINANCE UNFAIRLY TARGETS RESPONSIBLE LICENSED OWNERS. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR GOING AFTER THE IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS, SUCH AS THE BACKYARD BREEDERS AND THE OWNERS OF UNLICENSED DOGS?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WELL, OUR ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY IS VERY STRONG IN THAT AREA. FOR IDENTIFYING THE UNLICENSED DOGS, OUR LICENSE CANVASSERS COLLECT 38% OF THEIR LICENSES ARE FOR DOGS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN UNIDENTIFIED TO US, SO THAT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT OUR CANVASSING EFFORTS WILL BE VERY EFFECTIVE AND GAINING COMPLIANCE. IN ADDITION, ANY DOG THAT HAS STRAYED THAT COMES INTO THE SHELTER, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A VIOLATION, WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE THEY'RE RELEASED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE INTENT, IF APPROVED TODAY, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT THE MAY 2ND MEETING AND THEN WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER THAT, WHICH WOULD BE IN TIME FOR YOUR ANNUAL LICENSE RENEWAL TIME FRAME?
MARCIA MAYEDA: OUR LICENSE RENEWALS ARE GOING OUT NOW OR WILL BE GOING OUT AT THAT TIME BUT THERE'S A NEW RENEWAL THAT WILL GO OUT IN JULY. SO, YES, THOSE WILL BE-- IF PASSED, THOSE WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW ORDINANCE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. LET ME ASK COUNTY COUNSEL THE FEASIBILITY OF PREPARING AN ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE OF THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE. COULD YOU BRIEF US ON THAT?
RAYMOND G. FORTNER, JR.: YES, MR. MAYOR, THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR PLACES IN THE DOG ORDINANCE WHERE THE PENALTIES CAN BE INCREASED. THERE IS ONE AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE VIOLATION OF THE LEASH LAW THAT CAN BE INCREASED. RIGHT NOW, IT IS AN INFRACTION SET AT 250. WE CAN INCREASE THAT. IT WOULD REMAIN AN INFRACTION, BUT THERE IS A THREE STEP PROCESS WE CAN DO AND THERE ARE TWO OR THREE OTHER AREAS THAT WE CAN TIGHTEN UP A LITTLE BIT, AREAS THAT A MISDEMEANOR OR INFRACTION COULD BE TREATED AS MISDEMEANOR. WE CAN RETURN WITH AN ORDINANCE AT A SUBSEQUENT DATE IF THE BOARD WERE TO ORDER US TO DO SO.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY MANY MUNICIPALITIES, CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS AN ANIMAL OVER POPULATION PROBLEM AND, AS WAS STATED, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF SWEEPS THAT I HAD MENTIONED. AND LET ME JUST ASK THE-- YOU HAD REQUESTED 20 ADDITIONAL FIELD STAFF FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS FOR THE '06/'07 BUDGET, THAT WAS FOR THE SWEEPS?
MARCIA MAYEDA: FOR GENERAL ENFORCEMENT, YES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: FOR GENERAL ENFORCEMENT AND YOU'RE BEING-- MAKING RECOMMENDATION TO GIVE YOU SIX BUT YOU HAD REQUESTED 20?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WHAT'S IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS SIX ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS. THERE AREN'T FIELD POSITIONS IN THERE, SO WE'VE SUPPLIED YOUR DEPUTY, WHO REQUESTED THE INFORMATION FROM US, OUR ADDITIONAL CRITICAL NEEDS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I'LL BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION AT THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS THAT WE MAKE THE ADDITIONAL 14 POSITIONS THAT YOU HAD REQUESTED. MANY OF US HAVE HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES RELATIVE TO THE DOGS RUNNING AROUND, UNLICENSED DOGS AND WE'VE HAD, IN PARTS OF OUR AREAS, SOME SEVERE ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU GREATER WITH THOSE REQUESTS. BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANY OF THE MEMBERS? SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: IN THE ORDINANCE, YOU'VE REDEFINED THE TERM-- THE DEFINITION OF HOBBY BREEDER. HOW ARE HOBBY BREEDERS TREATED IN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF?
MARCIA MAYEDA: WE CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF HOBBY BREEDER FROM IT BEING LIMITED TO A PERSON WHO OWNS A FEMALE DOG TO A PERSON WHO OWNS A DOG, SO IT WOULD APPLY TO WHETHER THEY HAD A FEMALE OR A MALE DOG THAT THEY INTEND TO BREED. HOW THIS ORDINANCE WOULD APPLY, THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE LARGE SCALE KENNELS BECAUSE THEY'RE REGULATED UNDER A DIFFERENT SCHEME IN THE ORDINANCE. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS THAT, IF YOU HAVE FOUR DOGS OR MORE, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ANIMAL FACILITY PERMIT AND, AS YOU RECALL, WE STARTED OUR ANIMAL FACILITY GRADING SYSTEM APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THOSE KENNELS ARE REGULATED UNDER THAT CRITERIA. THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE-- AND MAY I SAY THAT THOSE DOGS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION. THEY USUALLY DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRAY ANIMAL POPULATION DIRECTLY FROM THOSE KENNELS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THEIR KENNEL RUNS BUT, HOWEVER, THIS ORDINANCE DOES APPLY TO PEOPLE WHO OWN THREE DOGS OR FEWER AND THOSE ARE-- CAN BE CALLED HOBBY BREEDERS OR BACKYARD BREEDERS, DEPENDING ON KIND OF THE QUALITY OF BREEDING THAT THEY'RE ENGAGING IN. HOBBY BREEDERS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE REPUTABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE BREED. BACKYARD BREEDERS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NUMBER OF DOGS BUT AREN'T CARING ABOUT THAT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SO ARE HOBBY BREEDERS TREATED-- OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOW ADDRESSING IT AS MALE AND FEMALE DOGS, ARE THEY TREATED-- HOBBY BREEDERS ARE THOSE WHO BREED THREE OR FEWER DOGS, IS THAT...?
MARCIA MAYEDA: YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SO THAT, OTHER THAN THE CHANGE IN THE ADDITION OF BOTH SEXES, THEY ARE NOW GOING TO BE-- NOW BOTH SEXES WILL BE TREATED THE SAME WAY AS THE LAW HAS PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED JUST FEMALE DOGS? IS THAT...
MARCIA MAYEDA: YES, THAT'S HOW IT PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED FEMALE DOGS. HOWEVER, IF A PERSON HAS THREE DOGS OR FEWER, THEY HAVE TO GET INDIVIDUAL DOG LICENSES FOR EACH OF THOSE DOGS, WHICH MEANS THIS ORDINANCE WOULD APPLY TO THEM.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: OKAY. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE FOUND FOUNDATION?
MARCIA MAYEDA: YES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?
MARCIA MAYEDA: YEAH, THE FOUND ANIMAL FOUNDATION.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: FOUND ANIMAL FOUNDATION.
MARCIA MAYEDA: IT'S A NEW FOUNDATION. THERE'S PROBABLY NOT VERY MUCH ON THE WEBSITE. IT'S FOUNDED BY LOS ANGELES BILLIONAIRE, DR. GARY MICHELSON, AND HE HAS GRACIOUSLY APPROACHED US TO OFFER THEIR PARTNERSHIP TO HELP ELIMINATE PET OVERPOPULATION. THERE HAVE BEEN NEWS REPORTS ON HIS PARTNERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. HE'S APPROACHED A NUMBER OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL AND ANIMAL WELFARE AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND I COULD TELL YOU THEY'RE LEGITIMATE. IT'S NEW BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND WE HAVE FAITH IN THEIR OFFER.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: IT'S NEW ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE NOT-- THAT A GOOGLE SEARCH DID NOT PRODUCE THEM, YOU REALIZE THAT?
MARCIA MAYEDA: THAT'S RIGHT. RIGHT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: BUT YOU'RE VOUCHING FOR THEIR LEGITIMACY?
MARCIA MAYEDA: YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AND THEIR EXISTENCE.
MARCIA MAYEDA: YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR KNABE.
SUP. KNABE: WHEN THIS COMES BACK, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF WE COULD HAVE SOME IDEA, YOU KNOW, WE DISCUSSED EARLY ON ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION, SOME IDEA OF THAT FORMAT AND HOW THE OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, IF YOU COULD BRING THAT BACK AS PART OF IT JUST SO THAT WE HAVE AN IDEA, BECAUSE I THINK...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THIS IS THE FIRST READING.
SUP. KNABE: YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT BUT I MEAN-- YEAH. JUST SO THAT WE HAVE SOME IDEA, BECAUSE I ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF CALLS ON THIS.
MARCIA MAYEDA: IF YOU DECIDE TO VOTE ON IT TODAY, I CAN STILL COME BACK WITH A REPORT TO YOU AND A IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT YOU GUYS WILL HAVE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE CAN PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE.
SUP. KNABE: THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. YEAH, I'M NOT ADVOCATING NOT VOTING ON IT TODAY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: HOW ABOUT IF WE JUST GIVE EVERYBODY YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER. [ LAUGHTER ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME FIRST THANK THE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF MY STAFF, MILLIE JONES, WHO IS MY DEPUTY INVOLVED WITH ANIMAL ISSUES. THERE ARE-- AND WE APPRECIATE THE INPUT THAT THE ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DOG OWNERS AND THOSE INVOLVED PUT INTO THIS PROPOSAL. IT IS A HUMANE ORDINANCE. I KNOW THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION BUT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH OVERPOPULATION AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE EUTHANIZED EVERY YEAR. IT'S A CRIME. WE'VE HAD SOME SEVERE DOG ATTACKS IN OUR COUNTY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. WE HAD ONE OF OUR EXECUTIVES WITH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT WHO WAS HERE EARLIER WHO HAD, YOU KNOW, OVER HALF HIS MOUTH BITTEN OFF. THROUGH MIRACULOUS PLASTIC SURGEON, A SURGEON FROM TORRANCE, ABLE TO RESTORE HIM TO WHERE YOU WOULD NOT KNOW THAT HE HAD THAT SEVERE ATTACK, AMONG OTHERS. BUT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS VITAL TO PREVENT THESE ATTACKS AND WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND WE NEED TO ALSO GO AFTER THE IRRESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS BUT THIS IS-- MANY OF US FEEL IT'S A STEP FORWARD AND, WHILE THERE MAY BE IMPERFECTIONS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CORRECT THOSE IMPERFECTIONS AS WE GO ALONG, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN THE LOVE AND CARE AND ATTENTION THAT THEY SO RIGHTLY DESERVE AND THAT'S THE INTENT. WHEN I WAS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, I WAS PROUD TO AUTHOR THE LAW TO MAKE DOG FIGHTING A FELONY IN OUR STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO. [ APPLAUSE ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: PLEASE. [ GAVEL ]
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT IT'S A ONGOING ISSUE IN THIS AREA AND AGAIN DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS, THE LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN OUR FOSTER CARE WHO NEED ADOPTIONS, NEED LOVEABLE FAMILIES SO THEY CAN BE NURTURED AND GROW UP IN A RESPONSIBLE WORLD AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. SO ANYWAY, I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS ITEM. SECONDED BY GLORIA MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 76 WAS HELD BY SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY-- OR, EXCUSE ME, 64 WAS HELD BY SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE PUT THIS OVER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE SHERIFF'S STAFF LEFT AND SO PUT IT OVER FOR TWO WEEKS-- UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO PROBLEM. 64 WILL BE CONTINUED FOR TWO WEEKS BY SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY AND I WILL SECOND THAT. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 79 WAS A REPORT JUST TO BE GIVEN BY THE-- EXCUSE ME. ITEM 79-- IS IT 79?
SUP. MOLINA: GOING TO HAVE TO ASK THEM TO LEAVE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ITEM 78, 78, ITEM 78.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: THAT'S A HEARING TO VACATE WITH RESERVATIONS PORTIONS OF 204TH STREET, BERENDO AVENUE, CATALINA STREET AND ALLEYS SOUTH OF 204TH STREET BETWEEN BUDLONG AND BERENDO AVENUES IN THE VICINITY OF CARSON. WE HAVE NO WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WE NEED A TRANSLATOR. WE HAVE CYNTHIA BABICH AND JORGE MORAN AND MARIA MORAN. OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? FIRST, LET'S HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
JOSE SUAREZ: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOSE SUAREZ, I'M AN ASSOCIATE CIVIL ENGINEER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE PROPOSED VACATION OF THE COUNTY'S EASEMENT INTEREST IN THE INVOLVED PORTIONS OF 204TH STREET, BERENDO AVENUE, CATALINA STREET AND ALLEYS SOUTH OF 204TH STREET IN THE VICINITY OF CARSON. THE VACATION WAS PROPOSED BY TRENTON DIAGNOSTICS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC-- I'M SORRY, THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE PROPOSED VACATION AREA CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 75,590 SQUARE FEET. THIS VACATION IS RECOMMENDED IN LIEU OF AN EARLIER CONDITIONAL VACATION OF THE SAME COUNTY INTERESTS WHICH YOUR BOARD APPROVED IN 2000. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOUR BOARD RESCIND THAT EARLIER VACATION. IN MY OPINION, THE INVOLVED COUNTY INTERESTS PROPOSED TO BE VACATED AREN'T NECESSARY FOR PRESENT OR PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC USE, INCLUDING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. THE VACATION WILL NOT CUT OFF ACCESS TO ANY PROPERTIES OR NEGATIVELY IMPACT OTHER SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. THE VACATION WILL BE CONDITIONED UPON RESERVATION OF UTILITY EASEMENTS FOR VARIOUS ENTITIES AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOARD LETTER, AS WELL AS SANITARY SEWER EASEMENTS AND STORM DRAIN AND ACCESS EASEMENTS. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROTESTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. YES, MA'AM.
CYNTHIA BABICH: MY NAME IS CYNTHIA BABICH AND I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEL AMO ACTION COMMITTEE AND WE'RE A NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUP THAT ACTUALLY WAS FORMED DUE TO THE CONTAMINATION IN THIS AREA. IN FACT, MY HOME USED TO BE RIGHT ON THE VERY AREA WHERE THE E.P.A. FOUND PURE DDT IN MY BACKYARD. OUR GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING WITH MANY OF THE ENTITIES AND WE WERE ALSO RESPONSIBLE IN SPEARHEADING THE BUYOUT OF 65 HOMES BY SHELL OIL COMPANY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND DOW CHEMICAL. WE'VE TRIED TO MAINTAIN OUR INVOLVEMENT, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT OFTEN CALLED WHEN THINGS OF THIS NATURE POP UP. SOME OF THE NEARBY RESIDENTS ACTUALLY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A HEARING TODAY, WHICH WAS RATHER CONFUSING BECAUSE WE KNOW THE AREA HAD ALREADY BEEN VACATED. MY CONCERN THAT I'M RAISING TODAY IS TWOFOLD. ONE, I DON'T THINK THAT ANY KIND OF A C.E.Q.A. WAIVER SHOULD BE HAPPENING HERE DUE TO THE INADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP THAT WAS DONE. I HAVE PERSONALLY, AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEL AMO ACTION COMMITTEE, OVERSEEN MUCH OF THE REMOVAL ACTIONS IN THE AREA. WE HAVE VIDEOTAPED. WE'VE HAD 40-HOUR HAZ-WALKER TRAINING AND WE REMAIN CONCERNED THAT THIS AREA IS STILL HIGHLY IMPACTED AND CONTAMINATED. WE'RE UNSURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING MIGHT BE GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MAYBE THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND WITH THIS AREA. WE MET WITH THEM APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO AND HAD A FOUR-HOUR BRIEFING WITH THEM, EXPLAINING THE FINDINGS OF THE AREA. AFTER THE E.P.A. AND OTHERS HAD SIGNED OFF ON THE AREA, WE WROTE A GRANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT FOR $50,000 AND WE HIRED SOMEBODY TO COME OUT AND CHARACTERIZE THE SOIL IN THAT AREA AND THEY FOUND A LOT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION. THEY NOT ONLY FOUND HEAVY METALS SUCH AS LEAD AND ARSENIC IN THIS AREA, THEY ALSO FOUND IT IN THE DUST IN THE NEARBY HOMES. SO MY CONCERN WITH THIS VACATION OF THESE PORTIONS AND I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING NORMALLY THE COUNTY WOULD DO IS, ONE, WHEN WE ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS TO LOOK AT THE END LAND USE FOR THIS AREA, WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WHOLE AREA AND TURN IT INTO A COMMUNITY PARK. YEARS HAVE GONE BY. THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AND I HAVE WATCHED THEM DO THE BULLDOZING OF THE HOMES AND, WHEN THEY DO THIS BULLDOZING, THEY LITERALLY DO SOIL BLENDING AND THEY MOVE THE SOIL OVER THE WHOLE AREA. SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE STREETS AND SEWERS ONCE PRESENT, I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WHATEVER CONTAMINATION WAS IN ONE AREA COULD BE SPREAD TO ANOTHER. AND SO I THINK I JUST WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT AND HELP TO THIS COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO MY GROUP RATHER THAN JUST PASSING THIS OFF TO ANOTHER ENTITY. WHEN THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND MET WITH US, THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT THEY WERE SALIVATING OVER SUCH A BIG PARCEL OF LAND, AND THEY JUST NEVER CAME BACK AND SPOKE WITH US. SO I REALLY WASN'T SURE WHAT THIS HEARING WAS ABOUT, SINCE NOBODY CONTACTED ME FROM ANY OF THE...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY.
CYNTHIA BABICH: ...OWNERS BUT I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE NEARBY HERE THAT I DON'T THINK SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT WERE ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPERVISORS RIGHT ADJACENT TO THEIR PROPERTY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. IS JORGE MORAN AND MARIA MORAN HERE? IF NOT, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SECOND SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT. COULD YOU RESPOND TO HER COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S SIDE AS WELL?
SPEAKER: BASICALLY, WHAT WE DID IS WE NOTIFIED ALL RESIDENTS WITHIN-- OR PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE AFFECTED AREA. THAT'S WHO WAS BASICALLY NOTIFIED AND ALSO WE POSTED NOTICES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA THAT'S AFFECTED BY THE VACATION...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME JUST INTERRUPT YOU. SUPERVISOR BURKE'S DEPUTY SUGGESTED WE PUT THAT OVER UNTIL SHE COMES BACK.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I WOULD SO MOVE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION BY-- AND THEN YOU CAN RESPOND NEXT TIME-- BY YAROSLAVSKY. SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 62, PUBLIC WORKS...
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: EXCUSE ME. MAY I HAVE A DATE ON...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: OKAY.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERE TWO WEEKS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THREE WEEKS.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: NO. SHE'S OUT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: SHE'S GONE THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY AS WELL. I THINK IT'D BE THE SECOND WEEK IN MAY.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: MAY 9TH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. WHICH TIME WILL IT BE SET FOR?
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: BE SET AT 9:30 A.M., IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: RELATIVE TO 62.
FEBREZIO PECHANO: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS FEBREZIO PECHANO WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND I'M HERE TO REPORT ON ITEM 62. DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THE AGREEMENT, AFTER THE FINAL MAPS HAD BEEN FILED, THE DEVELOPER CHOSE TO PURSUE THE REMEDIATION OPTION. THEY HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OF AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC WORKS. DUE TO MATTERS BEYOND THE DEVELOPER'S CONTROL, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THE LETTER OF CREDIT PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING TODAY. THE LETTER AGREEMENT PROVIDES THEM SEVEN MORE DAYS TO DELIVER THE LETTER OF CREDIT. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH COUNTY COUNSEL, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS STILL APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE MATTER BEFORE YOU AND APPROVE THE FINAL MAPS SO THAT THEY CAN BE RECORDED. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ITEM. SECONDED BY KNABE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 24 WAS HELD BY SUPERVISOR KNABE.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: AND THIS MATTER WOULD REQUIRE RECONSIDERATION. IT WAS ACTUALLY CONTINUED IN ITS ENTIRETY EARLIER TODAY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. SO MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED, WITHOUT OBJECTION, TO RECONSIDER. SO ORDERED. SUPERVISOR KNABE.
SUP. KNABE: I HAD HELD IT FOR SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT. I GUESS JUST ONE PORTION IS WHAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE. SO IF I CAN HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE DEPARTMENT COME UP. ON THE GOOD SIDE, DAVID, I THINK OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE WAY WE SERVE OUR FOSTER CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY ONES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. FIRST QUESTION IS WHY FEDERAL FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR THESE SERVICES.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR KNABE, THERE WAS A 4-E WAIVER THAT CALIFORNIA RECEIVED IN THE LATE '90S THAT WAS USED TO FUND WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND SO THAT ALLOWED FEDERAL FUNDS TO GO TOWARDS WRAPAROUND SERVICES. THAT WAIVER ENDED LAST YEAR, AND SO THE FEDERAL FUND SPECIFICALLY FOR WRAPAROUND NO LONGER CONTINUED. AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO BUILD EPSDT, SO ALL OF THE AGENCIES HAVE EPSDT CONTRACTS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH. SO FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BRING IN EPSDT FUNDING, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FEDERAL FUNDING BUT FOR WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THERE ISN'T ANYTHING. LET ME JUST MENTION ONE OTHER PIECE. IN THE STATE KDA LAWSUIT, THE FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ORDERED THE STATE TO DEVELOP WRAPAROUND AS AN EPSDT FUNDED SERVICE, SO THAT MAY CHANGE IF THAT-- IF THAT DECISION IS UPHELD OVER TIME.
SUP. KNABE: WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT OF COUNTY DOLLARS, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OVER THREE YEARS, AND SORT OF LIKE THE HOMELESS ISSUE OR INITIATIVE WE APPROVED ON APRIL 4TH, I MEAN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OUT OF THESE DOLLARS. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT GETS REFERRALS OUT TO THE WRAPAROUND AGENCIES EFFICIENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR KNABE, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OR THE EXPECTATION IS THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF WRAPAROUND AND WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE PROVIDERS, BOTH TO LOOK AT THE INITIAL INCREASES AS HAPPENING GRADUALLY. SO THE NEW PROVIDERS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GET A LARGE NUMBER OF REFERRALS INITIALLY, AND THEN THAT WILL BUILD UP OVER TIME. WE HAVE A STRUCTURE ACROSS THE COUNTY OF SCREENING TEAMS THAT LOOK AT CHILDREN WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE GO INTO GROUP HOME CARE AND THOSE CHILDREN WILL ALL BE CONSIDERED FOR WRAPAROUND. SO WE THINK WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO ASSURE THE REFERRALS BUT WE'RE ALSO EXPECTING A SLOW START UP.
SUP. KNABE: AND WE DO HAVE A MONITORING SYSTEM IN PLACE THEN? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, FOR THE SCREENING PROCESS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: RIGHT. FOR WRAPAROUND, WE HAVE A COUNTYWIDE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO GO IN AS WELL AS ONGOING FEEDBACK. EACH PROVIDER HAS TO REPORT BACK AT THE SIX-MONTH MARK TO THE TEAM ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE CHILD AND WHAT THE CASE PLAN CONTINUES TO BE.
SUP. KNABE: AND YOU MENTIONED THE STATE EPSDT DOLLARS. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THESE AGENCIES WILL USE THOSE DOLLARS TO SUPPLEMENT? I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR IS IT JUST A STRAIGHT OUT GRANT?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THE WAY THAT THE WRAPAROUND CONTRACT WORKS IS MORE LIKE A GROUP HOME CONTRACT SO, REALLY, THERE ISN'T A SET ALLOCATION FOR A PROVIDER. IT'S REALLY BASED ON THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS SIMILAR TO IF THEY WERE OPERATING A GROUP HOME. THE EXPECTATION IS THAT EPSDT FUNDING WILL BE ACCESSED BY ALL OF THE PROVIDERS ON TOP OF THE ACTUAL WRAPAROUND RATE.
SUP. KNABE: ARE YOU PLANNING THEN-- YOU INDICATED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE AS IT RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, OVERSIGHT, MONITORING, THAT KIND OF THING, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SIX MONTHS EVALUATIONS, IS THAT CORRECT? WOULD THE AGENCIES-- I MEAN, IS THAT POSSIBLE, THEN, TO TIE THAT-- WELL, NOT POSSIBLE BUT WOULDN'T IT BE APPROPRIATE AT LEAST TO GIVE US SOME UPDATES AS TO HOW THESE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OVER THREE YEARS TO SORT OF TIE IN WHATEVER EVALUATION YOU GET AND REPORT TO THE BOARD?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR KNABE, THAT WOULD BE CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'D BE WILLING TO DO. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS THAT THIS CONTRACT DOES HAVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES BUILT IN, WHICH PREVIOUS CONTRACTS HAVE NOT HAD, AT LEAST AT THE SAME LEVEL, SO THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER AVENUE THAT WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD.
SUP. KNABE: OKAY. I WOULD MOVE THE ITEM WITH THAT AMENDMENT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. AS AMENDED BY KNABE, SECONDED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: AND THAT WOULD ALSO WOULD CONTINUE...
SUP. KNABE: CONTINUING THE ONE AGENCY...
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: AMANASER COMMUNITY COUNSELING SERVICE TO MAY 2ND, 2006.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. I JUST HAD A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERAN AFFAIRS TO WAIVE THE FEES OF $125 EXCLUDING THE COST OF LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THEIR CLOSING CEREMONY FOR THE USE OF THE PATRIOTIC HALL BY THE YOUTH FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, WHO WILL BE HAVING THEIR NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY CLOSING CEREMONY ON APRIL 22ND FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERAN AFFAIRS. SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. ITEM NUMBER 79. MR. JANSSEN?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE'LL SET UP SOME SLIDES BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THEM PRETTY QUICKLY. FOR YOUR BOARD, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION IS NOT NEW BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK ARE WORTH POINTING OUT IN NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A PROPOSED BUDGET. THE ACTION TODAY, IF YOU TAKE IT, WILL BE TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET FOR PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON MAY THE 10TH AND THEN WE HAVE A 10-DAY OPEN PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO TESTIFY ON THE BUDGET. BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WILL ACTUALLY BEGIN ON JUNE 26TH, IS THE CURRENT SCHEDULE. THE BUDGET, NEXT YEAR, IS 17.377 BILLION DOLLARS. IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN CURRENT YEAR, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE'RE USING ONE-TIME MONEYS THAT HAVE BEEN IN DESIGNATIONS OR FUND BALANCE AND THAT'S REDUCED THE LEVEL OF THE BUDGET. THERE IS ACTUALLY AN INCREASED GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE OF 577 MILLION DOLLARS AS PART OF THAT, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT-- MORE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN. THE POINT I TRIED TO MAKE YESTERDAY TO THE MEDIA, A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE COUNTY BUDGET IS STRONG. IT'S NOT WITHOUT RISKS BUT IT IS STRONG, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. ONE IS THIS BOARD HAS, FOR AT LEAST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, BEEN VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU. IT HAS RESULTED IN THERE BEING MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ONE-TIME MONEY AVAILABLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPITAL PROJECTS, MAJOR MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS AND HAS MAINTAINED THE BASE OF THE COUNTY BUDGET AT A LEVEL THAT IS SUSTAINABLE. I THINK SUSTAINABLE IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO LOOK AT IT. THE STATE IS EXPERIENCING BUDGET DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE, IN THE EARLY, LATE '90S, IN 2000, THEY SPENT MONEY THAT DISAPPEARED. WE ARE HEARING READING THAT THE CITY IS CHALLENGED WITH BUDGET ISSUES AT THE SAME TIME. I DON'T-- I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEIR BUDGET, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS BUT I DO KNOW THAT BEING ABLE TO SAY "NO" TO BUDGET DEMANDS RESULTS IN BUDGETS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE. PROPOSITION 1-A CLEARLY IS A FACTOR IN PROTECTING THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE. VOTERS APPROVED PROPOSITION 1-A, WHICH PROHIBITS THE STATE FROM TRANSFERRING ANY COUNTY GENERAL RESOURCES OR CITY GENERAL REVENUES TO THE STATE TO HELP BALANCE THEIR BUDGET. THAT IS NEW, WAS NEW IN NOVEMBER OF '04. WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT NOW. AND THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX IS THE FACTOR OF TWO THINGS HAPPENING. ONE, THE STRONG ECONOMY, STRONG REAL ESTATE. WE'RE ESTIMATING 8-1/2% INCREASE IN THE BUDGET AND THE SWAP THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR OF STATE GENERAL FUND FOR ERAF OR PROPERTY TAX TRANSFERRED TO SCHOOLS, SO THAT'S ABOUT 50% OF IT REPRESENTS THE SWAP TAKING PLACE AND GROWING AND THEN THE GROWTH IN REAL ESTATE. THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE OUT YEARS. ARE THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR ACTIONS IN THE BUDGET THAT ARE GOING TO BE UNAFFORDABLE? AND THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A REAL STATE BUBBLE IS ONE THAT EVERYONE ASKS ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ANSWERS OR RESPONSES TO THAT. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS. U.C.L.A. IS THE MOST CONSERVATIVE AND EVEN THEY ARE NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S A BUBBLE, THAT EVERYONE ANTICIPATES A SLOWDOWN, A MODERATION OF THE GROWTH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. A LEGISLATIVE ANALYST IS PROJECTING ABOUT A 7 TO 8% GROWTH IN '07/'08 BUT FRANKLY I THINK IT'S VERY HARD TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE ECONOMY AND SO THE WAY IN WHICH WE BUDGET BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A BUBBLE AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE-- FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH THAT YOU TAKE IN PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET. YOU USE ONE-TIME REVENUES FOR ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES. YOU LOOK AT OUT YEARS AND MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT GROWTH THAT ARE REASONABLE AND WE ARE OURSELVES ONLY PROJECTING A 4 TO 5% GROWTH IN PROPERTY TAX IN '07/'08, '08/'09 TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE. IF IT'S THAT LOW, CAN WE STILL AFFORD WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING? WE HAVE RESERVES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER THE YEARS, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET AND FUND BALANCE IS ONLY USED FOR ONE-TIME EXPENSES. SO THAT'S THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE LOOK AT THE $577 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE. LET ME GO THROUGH SOME OF THIS, IF I CAN GET THIS GOING RIGHT. AS I SAID, THE BUDGET IS 19.3-- I THINK I SAID 17, 19.377 BILLION DOLLARS. IT IS DOWN HALF A BILLION FROM CURRENT YEAR. BUDGETED POSITIONS ARE GOING UP ABOUT 3%, MOST OF THOSE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THIS SIMPLY DISPLAYS WHERE THE TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET IS SPENT. IT'S PRETTY WELL BALANCED BETWEEN HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC PROTECTION WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE. THE REVENUE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND LOCAL REVENUE, SPECIAL FUNDS, AGAIN, THEY'RE ALL PRETTY CLOSELY BALANCED. IF YOU LOOK JUST AT THE GENERAL FUND, YOU HAVE A SMALLER FIGURE, 13/7 INSTEAD OF 19/3. IN THE GENERAL FUND, WHEN YOU TAKE FIRE AND YOU TAKE FLOOD, YOU TAKE ROAD FUNDS OUT, THEN YOU'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE BASIC PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES FOR THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT REVENUE THEN CONSTITUTES 51% OF ALL OF OUR REVENUE, A MUCH HIGHER AMOUNT THAN IN THE TOTAL BUDGET. LOCALLY GENERATED REVENUES GO UP AS WELL. 36-- 36% AT ALMOST $5 BILLION. THIS IS THE CHART THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FOR MANY YEARS AHEAD BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOW 64% OF OUR LOCAL REVENUES. WE USED TO HAVE, WITH VEHICLE LICENSE FEES, A MUCH MORE BALANCED REVENUE BASE BUT, BECAUSE OF THE BLF REDUCTION, THE SWAP OF STATE GENERAL FUNDS FOR ERAF, PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS, OUR SHARE OF PROPERTY TAX HAS JUMPED FROM ABOUT 49% TO 64. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUND BALANCE FIGURE OF 622 MILLION, A HUNDRED MILLION OF THAT IS REQUIRED FOR BUDGET PURPOSES. THE REST IS ONE-TIME MONEY. THAT WILL BE SPENT DOWN AND EVENTUALLY GONE. IF YOU HAVE A FUND BALANCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF A HUNDRED MILLION, THEN YOUR PROPERTY TAX SHARE JUMPS TO OVER 70%. NOW, THIS IS VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY. PROPERTY TAX, HISTORICALLY, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST REVENUES TO HAVE. IT'S BEEN A GOOD REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONLY PROBLEMATIC WHEN THE STATE USED IT FOR ITS OWN BUDGET PURPOSES. BUT IT DOES CAUSE A GOOD DEAL OF CONCERN LOOKING FORWARD ABOUT THE STATE OF THE HOUSING INDUSTRY, REAL ESTATE MARKET, WHICH DRIVES NOW A LARGE SHARE OF OUR LOCAL REVENUE. THIS IS HOW THE LOCAL REVENUE IS SPENT. THIS ONE SHOWS IT A LITTLE BETTER. THE TOTAL BUDGET PUBLIC PROTECTION, ONLY 25% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET GOES TO PUBLIC PROTECTION. ALMOST 40% OF THE LOCAL DOLLARS GO TO PUBLIC PROTECTION. SO THE PRIORITY OVER THE YEARS OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN PUBLIC PROTECTION. HEALTH IS JUST ABOUT THE SAME, 28, 21, IT'S A LITTLE LOWER IN THE LOCAL MONEY BECAUSE WE GET MORE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS. THIS IS A CHART THAT WE HAVE USED OVER THE YEARS TO SHOW THE COMPLEXITY OF A COUNTY BUDGET COMPARED TO A CITY. IT'S MUCH MORE SIMILAR TO A STATE. YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET THAT YOU CANNOT USE FOR YOUR OWN PURPOSES, SO YOU CAN'T USE ANY OF THAT 14.420 BILLION DOLLARS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS 74.4% OF THE BUDGET, FOR PARKS OR LIBRARIES OR ANIMAL CONTROL BECAUSE THAT'S A PRIORITY TO YOU BECAUSE THAT MONEY COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED TO IT. NONFLEXIBLE AT 11.6% MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENTS. YOU REALLY HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER THAT. FLEXIBLE COSTS, 14%. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT FLEXIBLE COSTS IS THAT HAS BEEN INCREASING, WHICH IS VERY GOOD NEWS. NINE YEARS AGO, THAT WAS 3.3% OF THE BUDGET, WAS DISCRETIONARY. IT'S NOW 14%. IT SHOWS, I THINK, A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO BUDGETING OVER THOSE YEARS, INCREASED REVENUES AND NOW WITH THE PROTECTION OF PROP 1-A, A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IF WE GET INTO TROUBLE IN OUT YEARS WITH THE BUDGET. THIS IS JUST A BREAKOUT OF WHERE THE PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REVENUE GOES. IT'S PRIMARILY HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. NONFLEXIBLE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT COSTS TO GET THE STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY, WE HAVE TO PUT UP LOCAL DOLLARS. IN SOCIAL SERVICES, IT TAKES $415 MILLION OF LOCAL REVENUE, ESSENTIALLY PROPERTY TAX NOW, TO DRAW DOWN THE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS. PUBLIC DEFENDER, ALTERNATE PUBLIC DEFENDER. THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE, LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE FOR THE COST OF INDIGENT DEFENSE. PERIOD. WE DON'T HAVE PARTNERS IN THIS. IT IS A COUNTY OBLIGATION AND WE SPEND SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF GENERAL FUND TO DO THAT. DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND SHERIFF. THERE ARE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENTS TO DRAW DOWN SALES TAX, PROP 172 SALES TAX, THAT FLOW INTO THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS. YOU CAN'T-- IF YOU REDUCE THAT 405 MILLION, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SALES TAX ON A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY BUT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, $530 MILLION IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS ABOVE THE BASE YEAR REQUIREMENT FOR PROP 172. $530 MILLION. NINE YEARS AGO, THAT WAS ABOUT $20 MILLION. SO IT'S GROWN. THE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY HAS GROWN THAT MUCH IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME. AND THE CHART ON THE RIGHT IS ABOUT 50% OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE ONE-TIME CAPITAL DOLLARS, SET ASIDE DESIGNATIONS, MAJOR MAINTENANCE. SO THAT THE ONE-TIME DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING INTO CAPITAL HAVE INFLATED THE VALUE OF FLEXIBLE COSTS IN THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET PRIMARILY IS CONTINUING DECISIONS THAT YOUR BOARD HAS ALREADY MADE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. THERE ARE A FEW INITIATIVES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET BUT REALLY NOT THAT MANY. AND I'LL TOUCH ON THEM BRIEFLY BUT PUBLIC PROTECTION, CHILDREN SERVICES, HOMELESS AND HOUSING AND HEALTH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE CONTINUATION OF REOPENING THE 4,400 JAILS AS PART OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THIS WAS APPROVED BY YOUR BOARD LAST YEAR, FUNDED THIS YEAR, AND IT WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL 31 MILLION NEXT YEAR. SAME WITH C.R.D.F., AN ADDITIONAL 9,2 TO OPEN. 25 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS. THAT MONEY IS SET ASIDE FOR DELIBERATIONS IN JUNE. IT'S ONGOING MONEY, FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE YOU CHOOSE, BASED ON THE SHERIFF'S PROPOSAL THAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE IN JUNE AND OUR REPORT BACK ON SYBIL BRAND AND PITCHESS IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SO IT'S A START. EVEN SYBIL BRAND IS, I THINK, $64 MILLION ANNUALLY TO OPERATE BUT WE ARE SETTING ASIDE $25 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO STAFFING. MEDICAL SERVICES, $10 MILLION INCREASE IN JAIL MEDICAL, THAT'S A CONTINUATION OF A MULTI-PHASE BOARD IMPROVEMENT IN THE MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE JAILS. CRIME LAB. THIS IS NEW. 2.7 MILLION. THE CRIME LAB OPENS NEXT YEAR. IT SEEMS LIKE JUST A YEAR AGO THAT GOVERNOR DAVIS WAS RESPONSIBLE AND SHERIFF BACA FOR BRINGING 96 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS TO BUILD A REGIONAL CRIME LAB WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. IT'S OPENING NEXT YEAR AND IT OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO COST MONEY TO FUND. COUNTYWIDE COMMUNICATIONS IN ITSELF IS AN EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL COOPERATION BEYOND JUST COUNTY, FIRE AND THE SHERIFF. WE'RE WORKING WITH CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION TO TRY TO IDENTIFY AN AFFORDABLE, A COMMON PLATFORM FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS THAT WOULD BE-- THAT WILL BE SEAMLESS AND WE'VE SET ASIDE ABOUT $50 MILLION FOR THE SHERIFF TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT. ENHANCED PARK SECURITY, A CONTINUATION OF PROBATION, D.O.J. REQUIREMENTS IN THE JUVENILE HALLS AND THAT D.N.A. UNITS ARE NEW, A REFLECTION OF THE CHANGE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. WE ARE NOT AT THE FRONT END, BUT WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE FRONT END OF THE USE OF D.N.A. NOW IN CASES ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW. I THINK THAT THE DEFENSE OFFICE HAS SAID THEY MAYBE HAD 150 CASES THAT HAD D.N.A. INVOLVED IN THEM. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO GROW AS COLD CASES ARE DONE, AS THE D.N.A. BANK INCREASES. BOTH THE PROSECUTION AND THE DEFENSE ASKED FOR MUCH MORE THAN THIS IN TERMS OF D.N.A. UNITS, BUT THIS WILL START THE PROCESS OF ADDING D.N.A. UNITS TO THEM. CHILDREN SERVICES, YOU JUST HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WRAPAROUND. WE HAVEN'T HAD A SIGNIFICANT GENERAL FUND ADDITION TO CHILDREN'S SERVICES FOR IMPROVING THE OUTCOMES FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THESE ARE SIX DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE PRIORITIES. YOUR BOARD HAS ACTED ON ALL OF THESE. THIS IS FULL-YEAR FUNDING NEXT YEAR FOR THE PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE BUDGET HAS ONLY $6 MILLION IN IT FOR HOMELESS. WE ESTABLISHED A BUDGET UNIT BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THE VOTE ON THE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE UNTIL AFTER THE BUDGET WAS PRINTED, SO THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. WE WILL RETURN IN JUNE WITH THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THE $80 MILLION TRUST FUND AND THE ADDITIONAL 15.9 MILLION THAT YOU APPROVED IN YOUR ACTIONS RECENTLY. HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE AN ITEM TODAY, A STATUS REPORT, QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. NOT SURPRISINGLY, WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE STILL PROJECTING SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALLS IN OUT YEARS, ALTHOUGH WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN REDUCING THE IMPACT OF THAT AND I DID NOT REALIZE, BUT RECENTLY THE DEPARTMENT PRODUCED, I THINK FOR SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY, A "HOW DIFFERENT IS IT TODAY", THE DEFICIT, THAN IT WAS IN '95, THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND THE PROBLEM ITSELF, ALTHOUGH THE DOLLARS ARE LARGE, IS A PORTION OF THE BUDGET IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD $47 MILLION, AN ADDITIONAL 47 IN GENERAL FUND, TO MATCH A MANAGED CARE RATE INCREASE PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STATE AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL MOVE ON TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING TO ADD 800 POSITIONS, ALMOST HALF OF THEM ARE NURSES FOR THE NURSE STAFF RATIO, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A CHALLENGE KIND OF LIKE DEPUTY SHERIFFS, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE HIRING DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND NURSES AND YET THE LAW CONTINUES TO REQUIRE HIGHER RATIOS OF SERVICE. 63% OF THE HEALTH BUDGET IS IN HOSPITALS. PUBLIC HEALTH, 651 MILLION, 18% OF THE DEPARTMENT IS IN PUBLIC HEALTH. WE WILL REVISIT THAT ISSUE OF A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT I THINK THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE. MENTAL HEALTH. MENTAL HEALTH AS IT DID LAST YEAR AND IN PRIOR YEARS, IS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE AND A LITTLE HARD TO EXPLAIN TO ANYONE, SINCE PROP 63 IS GOING TO INCREASE BY 250 TO 270 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND YET, WHEN THEY WROTE THE INITIATIVE, NOT SURPRISINGLY, I GUESS, THEY SAID YOU CANNOT SUPPLANT AND SO THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS A SHORTFALL, A BUDGET DEFICIT, A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM OF ABOUT $40 MILLION. WE HAVE NOT PLUGGED THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. WE DID PROVIDE A BRIDGE FUNDING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR IN SEPTEMBER THAT YOU APPROVED. THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE DURING DELIBERATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY THE BEST WAY TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT IS BEING PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET. WE ADDED 2.1 MILLION FOR THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE AUDIT IDENTIFIED IN THAT PROGRAM. CALWORKS ARE SLIGHTLY DOWN. IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IS THE ONE AREA THAT CONTINUES TO GROW IN THE BUDGET. A MILLION SEVEN FOR REPAIRS IN SENIOR CENTERS. THIS SHOWS, AGAIN, THE AGE-OLD PRESSURE ON COUNTY BUDGETS WAS IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND INDIGENT CARE. THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE FOR MANY YEARS. THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY, IN SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS, ARE IN IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. AS THE POPULATION AGES...
SUP. KNABE: WHY WOULD THAT BE?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: BECAUSE OF WELFARE REFORM. IT JUST SIMPLY IS WELFARE REFORM HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE CASELOAD AND IT'S DROPPED-- EVEN, YOU CAN SEE, SINCE '02 AND WELFARE REFORM, I THINK, WAS IN '98 AND THE-- AS I RECALL, I THINK BRYCE IS-- NOBODY'S HERE. CASELOAD COULD HAVE BEEN 700, 800,000, IT SEEMS TO ME, IN '98 AND THE G.R. HAS BEEN FLAT FOR SOME TIME. NOTHING SIGNIFICANT HERE. A MILLION FOR INCREASING THE GRANT. $70 MILLION IN THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE OF THAT GENERAL FUND IS FOR TECHNOLOGY. A LOT OF IT IS FOR THE H.R. COMPONENT OF OUR NEW E-CAPS FISCAL SYSTEM. 7 MILLION MORE FOR TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS. THAT WILL TAKE US TO 50 MILLION THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN SMALL DEPARTMENTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IN TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS, A VERY GOOD USE OF REVENUES. LACERA. YOU HAVE WATCHED THIS FOR MANY YEARS. AS IT TURNS OUT, IT'S BEEN ALMOST NINE YEARS AND I HAVE A CHART I'LL SHOW AND THEN WRAP THIS UP. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ABOUT 30% OF THAT 577 MILLION IS FOR SALARIES, BENEFITS, ENHANCEMENTS AS WE GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS, COMPLETED NEGOTIATIONS, SO SALARIES ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY. THIS CHART SHOWS THE LACERA CHALLENGE OVER THE YEARS. WE STARTED A BUY DOWN PROGRAM NINE YEARS AGO TO REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON SURPLUS EARNINGS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM. IN '07/'08, WE WILL HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THAT. WE'RE ABOUT $20 MILLION AWAY IN THE GENERAL FUND IN '06/'07 AND THAT'S WHAT THE COST OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INCREASING FROM $269 MILLION TO OVER $800 MILLION AND WE'VE MANAGED TO PHASE OUR WAY OUT. WE SHOULD HAVE EXCESS EARNINGS LEFT NEXT YEAR THAT WE COULD APPLY TO THE RETIREE HEALTH ISSUE WHICH IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF GATSBY REQUIREMENTS, IDENTIFICATION OF THAT AS AN UNFUNDED LIABILITY. BILLION DOLLARS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CHART BECAUSE IT EXPLAINS WHY WE HAVE A COUNTY MAYOR, SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH. THIS CHART, YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF MAYWOOD, I THINK, 4,000 PEOPLE IN MAYWOOD, THEY HAVE A MAYOR. WE HAVE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. WE SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, IT OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH TO HAVE A MAYOR, SINCE YOU ARE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A MILLION PEOPLE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I TRY TO MAKE ON THIS. WE ALSO HAVE ANY NUMBER OF INITIATIVES IN THE INCORPORATED AREA, WHICH, WITH 130 COMMUNITIES, IS A CHALLENGE BUT THIS IS A SMALL BUT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BUDGET. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. THIS IS A CHART THAT'S BEING USED IN CONGRESS. IT WAS USED IN DECEMBER. IT'S ACTUALLY ONLINE. A HOUSE PASSED A BILL TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. IT'S IN THE SENATE. THIS WAS DONE BY MARGARET DUNKLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO OUT OF WASHINGTON TO EXPLAIN JUST IN L.A. HOW 40 DIFFERENT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TOUCH A FAMILY AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE LINES HAS LAW, RULES, REGULATIONS BEHIND IT, EVERY ONE OF THOSE LANES HAS CATEGORICAL FUNDING BEHIND IT, WHICH MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME ON CHILDREN AND FAMILY. THERE ARE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS SO THAT ONE MENTAL HEALTH CAN'T TALK TO CHILDREN'S SERVICES, CAN'T TALK TO PROBATION. THIS CHART IS USED IN WASHINGTON TO TRY TO HELP THEM, BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER 51 SUBCOMMITTEES IN CONGRESS DEALING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
SUP. KNABE: I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF SUBCOMMITTEES THAT ARE IMPACTING, YOU KNOW, THESE-- RIGHT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THESE PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S SYMBOLIC OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. IT IS THE WAY WE MAKE DECISIONS. WE MAKE DECISIONS INCREMENTALLY EVERY TWO YEARS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T LIKE TO GIVE US MONEY UNLESS THEY'RE GOING TO TELL US HOW TO SPEND IT. THE STATE IS THE SAME WAY AND YOU HAVE A HODGEPODGE OVER THE YEARS, THEN, OF CHALLENGES TO OUR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER AND THE ONE POINT I WANT TO MAKE ON THIS ON THE HOMELESS PLAN THAT YOUR BOARD ADOPTED, THAT HOMELESS PLAN HAD TO OVERCOME MANY OF THOSE LINES. NOW, WE'RE YET TO IMPLEMENT IT, SUPERVISOR MOLINA, I AGREE, BUT IT IS THOSE LINES...
SUP. MOLINA: DID YOU SEE MY EYES?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I DID BUT IT'S THOSE LINES THAT MAKE IT CHALLENGING FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AROUND THE FEDERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS AND FUNDING THAT GOES FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. THE REASONS THE TITLE 4-E WAIVER THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST APPROVED FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN OUR CHILDREN'S SERVICES IS IT ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE ALMOST $400 MILLION OF THEIR BUDGET AND USE IT FOR SERVICES UNRELATED TO SPECIFIC CASELOAD REQUIREMENTS THAT DRIVE FUNDING AND DECISIONS IN SACRAMENTO AND WASHINGTON. SO THAT'S WHY WAIVERS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT, IT'S TO OVERCOME THIS KIND OF MISHMASH-- WOOPS. I'M GOING THE WRONG WAY AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT. I THINK JUST A COUPLE OTHER-- CAPITAL PROJECTS, THERE'S VERY LITTLE NEW IN CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR NEXT YEAR. IT'S PRIMARILY CARRYOVER OF EXISTING PROJECTS. WORKERS' COMPENSATION IS UPTICKING A LITTLE BIT. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. CASELOAD IS GOING UP A LITTLE BIT. OUR FINANCING ASSUMPTIONS, WE THINK, ON REVENUE ARE CONSERVATIVE, AGAIN, WHICH MEANS, HOPEFULLY, THAT, MID YEAR, WE'LL HAVE SOME EXTRA MONEY. GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, THEY STILL HAVE A FOUR TO $5 BILLION DEFICIT. 1-A REALLY PROTECTS US IN MANY AREAS BUT A WAY THAT THE STATE HAS STARTED TO IMPACT US IS REFUSING TO FUND THE GROWTH OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN WELFARE, IN FOOD STAMPS, IN MEDI-CAL, THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT FUNDING THOSE INCREASES SO THAT'S ADDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF OPERATING THEIR BUDGET; SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER IMPACTS THAN PRIOR YEARS BUT IMPORTANT ONES. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, EVEN MORE CONCERNING, CUTS IN MEDICAID OVER THE YEARS, SCAP IS A FIGHT EVERY YEAR. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, THE PROPOSED 25% REDUCTION BY THE PRESIDENT. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANTS, 30% REDUCTION. C.S.B.G. ELIMINATION. THESE ARE ALL PROGRAMS THAT YOU ARE WELL FAMILIAR WITH THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I'LL STOP THERE AND WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS A PROPOSAL. YOUR DELIBERATIONS WILL DRIVE THE FINAL BUDGET OF THE COUNTY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ARE YOU RECOMMENDING ALLOCATING $47 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FOR MANAGED CARE?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: YES. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD HOPED THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MANAGED CARE RATE INCREASE ON-- IN C.M.S. THIS FISCAL YEAR SO THAT IT COULD BE RETROACTIVE. THAT'S THE HOPE. WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN BUT, YES, THERE IS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND THEN, WHEN YOU ADD THAT TO THE $125 BILLION THE DEPARTMENT'S HEALTH SERVICES DESIGNATION CARRIED OVER INTO THE FISCAL '06/'07, PLUS A NEW $125 MILLION FOR THEIR DESIGNATION PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 47 MILLION FOR MANAGED CARE, THAT ADDS UP TO AN INCREASE OF $344 MILLION OF NET COUNTY COSTS TO THE DEPARTMENT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT-- I'M LOOKING FOR THE DISCRETIONARY CHART. HANG ON ONE MINUTE. GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION, 290 MILLION. THE OVERMATCH IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ABOVE THE OLD AB-8 REQUIREMENTS OF ABOUT 150 I THINK IS 290 MILLION. THE 125 MILLION THAT YOU APPROVED FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS ONGOING, SO IT'S NOT-- YOU CAN'T SIMPLY ADD IT EACH YEAR OR IN 10 YEARS YOU WILL HAVE SPENT A BILLION-TWO AND THAT JUST IS ONLY...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT IT'S STILL NEW MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: BUT IT WAS ONGOING MONEY, IT WASN'T ONE-TIME IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. IT'S ASSUMED IN THE BASELINE, IT'S COMING OUT OF PROPERTY TAX, IT IS ALREADY THERE. THE 47 MILLION IS THE SAME PROPOSAL. IT'S OUT OF ONGOING REVENUE. IT WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, SO IT IS TREATED VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE 80 MILLION FOR HOMELESS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT IT'S STILL DISCRETIONARY.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT IS DISCRETIONARY. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THAT IS A BUDGET POLICY DECISION OF YOUR BOARD.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT IT'S STILL $344 MILLION TOTAL.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT'S A 100 AND-- IT IS 47 MILLION ABOVE WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY AUTHORIZED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THAT'S ALL.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT IT COMES TO $344 MILLION.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: ONLY IF YOU ADD ALL THE FIGURES TOGETHER AND GARY DOES THE HEALTH BUDGET THAT WAY BUT WE DON'T DO THE REGULAR BUDGET THAT WAY. YOU ONLY GET TO COUNT IT ONCE IN THE BUDGET.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT THAT'S GENERAL FUND.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT IS GENERAL FUND.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: IS THERE ANY FUNDING FOR THE PROPOSED ENHANCEMENT OF THE SHERIFF'S RECRUITMENT EFFORTS OTHER THAN $140,000 FOR A NEW LIEUTENANT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I DON'T BELIEVE, MR. MAYOR, THAT WE HAVE-- WE HAVE-- I BELIEVE WE HAVE GIVEN THE SHERIFF EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR LAST YEAR AND IN THE CURRENT YEAR FOR RECRUITMENT PURPOSES. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ASKED FOR ANYTHING THAT WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YOU DIDN'T GIVE THEM ALL FOR SYBIL BRAND SO...
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: WELL, BUT SYBIL BRAND, WE'RE NOT READY TO DO YET.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, NO, I'M JUST SAYING, BUT THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE THE FULL ALLOTMENT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING FOR SYBIL BRAND, RIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S A JUNE REPORT AND A JUNE DISCUSSION.
SUP. KNABE: THEY ASKED FOR IT.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: YES, THEY ASKED-- THEY PRESENTED TO YOU A DOCUMENT THAT LAID OUT THEIR MULTI-YEAR STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH THE JAIL PROGRAM AND THE DECISION WAS TO COMPLETE WHAT WE'RE DOING, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN, IN JUNE, TO HAVE DURING DELIBERATIONS A FULL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT ELSE ARE WE ABLE TO FUND. HE PROPOSED, AS I RECALL, A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT AT PITCHESS, WHICH WOULD FREE UP PART OF TWIN TOWERS; REOPENING SYBIL; AND SO THOSE ARE JUNE ISSUES, AND THE 25 MILLION THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET OUT OF GENERAL FUND, ONGOING REVENUE, CAN BE USED FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT THE SHERIFF HAD REQUESTED $1.4 BILLION AND HE RECEIVED 897 MILLION.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THE SHERIFF REQUESTED 1.4 BILLION-- EXCUSE ME.
SUP. MOLINA: ONE TIME HE ASKED FOR 3 BILLION.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: HE COULDN'T SPEND WHAT HE GOT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET REQUEST IS $2.4 BILLION. AND HE IS REC-- IS THIS DOUBLE-- GROSS TOTAL-- YEAH. AND HE'S RECEIVING 2 BILLION 74 MILLION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, BUT ASKING FOR UNMET NEEDS-- HE'S REQUESTED 1.4 BILLION FOR UNMET NEEDS AND, FOR HIS UNMET NEEDS, HE'S RECEIVING 897 MILLION.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WHICH ISN'T TOO BAD FOR UNMET NEEDS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, I'M JUST SAYING, THE ISSUE AND ONE OF THEIR BIG AREAS OF NEED IS AN ENHANCED RECRUITMENT EFFORT TO BRING IN MORE DEPUTIES.
SUP. KNABE: BUT THE SHERIFF CAN MAKE THAT DECISION HIMSELF. HE'S THE ONE THAT MADE THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE UNIT A FEW YEARS AGO.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE SHERIFF UNMET NEEDS ARE BEING MET IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
SUP. MOLINA: WHAT ARE HIS UNMET NEEDS THAT WE HAVEN'T MET?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THOSE ARE THE REQUESTS THAT HE HAD MADE IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO, I THINK-- THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THAT'S...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THEY'RE REQUESTS THAT HE HAD MADE BUT IF YOU ASKED HIM, COULD YOU MEET THEM IF YOU GOT THE MONEY, THE ANSWER WOULD BE "NO." LAST YEAR THEY SAT HERE...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WELL, THAT'S FOR THE SHERIFF TO BE ANSWERING...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WELL, BUT LAST YEAR, WE GAVE-- HOW MUCH DID WE INCREASE HIS BUDGET LAST YEAR?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNMET NEEDS-- THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: MIKE, I UNDERSTAND. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
SUP. MOLINA: BUT IF YOU GIVE HIM THE MONEY, HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I MEAN, HE'S NOT SPENDING ALL OF HIS MONEY THIS YEAR AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID LAST YEAR WHEN HE TESTIFIED HERE. HE SAYS, YOU'RE GIVING ME MORE MONEY THAN I CAN SPEND IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE GAVE IT TO HIM ANYWAY, SO YOU CAN GIVE HIM A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS MORE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S GOING TO SPEND IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT THEN THE SHERIFF IS SAYING THAT HE NEEDS TO HAVE A HALF CENT OR QUARTER CENT SALES TAX INCREASE IN ORDER TO MEET HIS UNMET NEEDS AND HE'S GOING AROUND TALKING ABOUT THAT AND WE HAVE A PROPOSAL BEING...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WELL, HE HASN'T TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ...SUGGESTED THAT THERE HAS TO BE A BOND PROPOSAL TO MEET HIS UNMET NEEDS FOR SYBIL BRAND AND OTHER NEEDS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: NO, HE HASN'T TALKED ABOUT A BOND ISSUE. I HAVE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I DIDN'T SAY HE DID. I SAID THERE WERE OTHER PROPOSALS...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU SAID HE DID.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I SAID HE'S TALKING ABOUT A SALES TAX INCREASE.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: HE HASN'T TALKED TO ME ABOUT A SALES TAX INCREASE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, HE'S TALKED TO THE COMMUNITY.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: ABOUT $150 MILLION INCREASE LAST YEAR TO CURRENT YEAR AND SHARON HAS, YOU KNOW, CONFIRMED WHAT I SAID. WE HAVE GIVEN THE SHERIFF EVERYTHING HE ASKED FOR FOR RECRUITMENT PURPOSES. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS, CLEARLY, THAT HE'S ASKED FOR THAT WE HAVE NOT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING. HOW MUCH IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS SET ASIDE FOR SYBIL BRAND?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: AT THIS POINT, NOTHING IS SET ASIDE FOR SYBIL BRAND. WE'RE REPORTING BACK IN JUNE AND WE'LL DEAL WITH IT AT THAT POINT BASED ON WHAT THE REPORT SAYS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WELL, WE BELIEVE THAT 165 MILLION IS GOING TO BE THE COST OF RENOVATING SYBIL. AT ONE LEVEL, THEY HAVE A HIGHER COST TO EXPAND IT SOMEWHAT. THOSE FIGURES NEED TO BE UPDATED. WE WILL BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO REOPEN SYBIL, I BELIEVE, IT WILL BE OVER A COUPLE OF YEAR PERIOD BUT WE WILL...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: RIGHT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: ...IDENTIFY IN JUNE THE COST OF THAT, THE COST OF REHABBING CENTRAL, ET CETERA AND IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY LARGE FIGURE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WE HEARD A FIGURE OF 160/65 MILLION TO OPEN S.B.I AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 60 MILLION OR THEREABOUTS TO OPERATE.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: OPERATE, THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT WE'RE NOT EARMARKING THOSE FUNDS NOW. YOU'RE LOOKING AT JUNE.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WELL BUT, SUPERVISOR, SYBIL WOULDN'T REOPEN FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE FISCAL YEARS, SO YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO EARMARK MONEY FOR OPERATIONS IN JUNE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, BUT AS FAR AS REHABILITATING IT SO THAT IT COULD BE OPENED, YOU COULD USE THOSE FUNDS TO DO THAT. THAT'S THE POINT I WAS JUST...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: YES, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: RIGHT. WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE RESERVE?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: $132 MILLION IN THE OPERATING RESERVE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OUT OF A 20 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS THAT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: SMALL BUT IT-- OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, IT'S NOT AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT. THAT'S JUST OPERATING BUDGET. WE HAVE OTHER RESERVES AS WELL BUT THAT'S JUST THE OPERATING PERCENTAGE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BUT THEY USUALLY RECOMMEND WHAT? A THREE TO FIVE PERCENT...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THREE TO 4%.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HOW FAR ARE WE FROM OBTAINING THAT GOAL?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WELL, IF THE GENERAL FUND IS 13 BILLION-- WELL, WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE $50 MILLION, RIGHT?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: 10% OF 20 BILLION...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I KNOW, NOT 10-- YEAH, 10%-- NO, GENERAL FUND, NOT OF THE FULL BUDGET. OF 13 BILLION. 5%-- THAT'S $60 MILLION.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: NO. IT'S $600 MILLION.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: $600 MILLION.
SUP. KNABE: WELL, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN THAT. I MEAN, IF YOU INCLUDE THE DESIGNATION, THEN IT'S ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS. ABOUT 957 MILLION, ACCORDING TO YOUR '06/'07 PROPOSAL. THAT INCLUDES RESERVES AND DESIGNATIONS.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT. NO, IF YOU ADD THE DESIGNATION, YOU ADD CAPITAL RESERVE, YOUR OPERATING RESERVE, THEN IT'S MUCH CLOSER TO EIGHT OR $900 MILLION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DOES THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING INCLUDE ANY CONTINGENCIES RELATIVE TO IMPACTS THAT MAY OCCUR ON THE STATE BUDGET, REDUCTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO, BUT WE HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE IN OUR ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HANDLE ANY POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE STATE. THAT'S NOT TRUE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER. WE CAN'T HANDLE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: RIGHT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET WOULD BE ON THOSE PROPOSALS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AT THIS TIME?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE ONE THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE HAS TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY TAX AND WE HAVE FUNDED THAT. THE OTHERS ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF-- THEY'RE RELATED TO CALWORKS REDUCTIONS, WHICH ARE NOT DIRECTLY-- ACTUALLY, CALWORKS REDUCTIONS SAVE US MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO MATCH STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS, SO IT IS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE STATE.
SUP. KNABE: AND THAT'S THANKS TO PROP 1-A.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THANKS TO PROP 1-A AND THE VOTERS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO POUR MONEY INTO PLANNING FOR INTEROPERABILITY AND THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE SHERIFF OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROJECT. THE COSTS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION IS ESTIMATED AT AROUND HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, SO WHAT ARE OUR PLANS FOR PAYING FOR THE FINAL SYSTEM ONCE IT'S DEVELOPED?
SUP. KNABE: I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THERE'S A CITYWIDE, COUNTYWIDE TASK FORCE THAT HAS BEEN MEETING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL APPLICATION FOR BOTH VOICE AND DATA, AND THE ISIS INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS OPERATION IN BURBANK, GLENDALE, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY IS AN ACTIVE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. INDEPENDENT OF THAT, YOUR BOARD HAS APPROVED SOMETHING CALLED LAR TAX, WHICH IS A 40-MILLION-DOLLAR INTEROPERABILITY PLATFORM THAT WILL ALLOW THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE SHERIFF AND FIRE AND THE SHERIFF AND DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE 800 MEGAHERTZ AND HAVE UHF TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND THERE ARE POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET TO HELP MOVE THAT ALONG. IT'S NOT GOING NEARLY AS FAST AS ANY OF US WOULD LIKE. THEN WE HAVE THE ONE YOU REFERRED TO, THE INITIATIVE TO REPLACE THE SHERIFF AND THE FIRE DATA AND RADIO SYSTEMS. IT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE EQUIPMENT. FIRE HAS THE MONEY. WE HAVE SET ASIDE MONEY FOR THE SHERIFF FOR THE EQUIPMENT, SO WE'RE READY TO GO ON THAT WHEN WE IDENTIFY A VENDOR. PART OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO IDENTIFY VARIOUS FUNDING ALTERNATIVES. WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET, BUT WE'RE NOT ON THE VERGE OF HAVING TO SPEND THAT MONEY OTHER THAN THE EQUIPMENT, EITHER, SO THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE REGIONAL DISCUSSION, IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND IT. WE DON'T ACTUALLY-- THAT 500-MILLION-DOLLAR FIGURE WAS FROM 2001. IT MAY BE HIGH IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL COST WHEN WE GET-- IT WILL BE REMARKABLE IF ANYTHING EVER WENT DOWN BUT IT MAY BE LESS THAN THAT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE PROPOSED BUDGET ESTABLISHES A NEW UNIT FOR HOMELESSNESS. BESIDES THE TRANSFER OF $6 MILLION IN EXISTING FUNDING AND THE RECENT ALLOCATION OF $100 MILLION, WHAT ELSE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET UNIT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THAT'S ALL THAT WILL BE INCLUDED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE PROBLEM I DO HAVE, THOUGH, IS THE BUDGET DOESN'T MEET A NUMBER OF CRITICAL UNMET NEEDS, BUT IT PROVIDES THIS HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR A PROGRAM WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE MANDATORY DRUG OR ALCOHOL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS OR MENTAL ILLNESS STABILITY PROGRAMS, WHICH WOULD HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS MENTALLY ILL RETURN TO A SENSE OF NORMALITY AND A PRODUCTIVE LIFE, TO GET HIM OFF THE DOORSTEPS AND UNDERNEATH FREEWAY UNDERPASSES AND, WITHOUT THAT TYPE OF STATE LEGISLATIVE REFORM, WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE MONEY FOR ITS BEST USE. GANG WARFARE CONTINUES TO PLAGUE OUR COUNTY AND THAT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE MET BY THE SHERIFF, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND PROBATION, ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND I FEEL THAT THE, YOU KNOW, PROPOSALS BEING SUGGESTED FROM TIME TO TIME RELATIVE TO MORE BONDS OR HAVING A SALES TAX INCREASE IS NOT NEEDED BECAUSE WE DO HAVE RESOURCES THAT COULD BE USED FOR THESE CRITICAL UNMET NEEDS. I DID MENTION THAT THE SHERIFF HAS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THOSE UNMET NEEDS AND HAS NOT RECEIVED THEM IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. IT ALSO IGNORES THE SHERIFF'S REQUEST FOR FUNDING TO FILL POSITIONS AT THE SHERIFF'S STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IN THE HOMICIDE BUREAU AND FUNDING TO INCREASE THE STAFF-TO-INMATE RATIO AT MEN'S CENTRAL JAIL, WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THE COUNTY THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST STAFF-TO-INMATE RATIOS AT MEN'S CENTRAL JAIL, WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO PART OF THE PROBLEM. PROBATION, ONLY 20% OF OUR PROBATIONERS ARE SUBJECT TO A SEARCH FOR ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND CONTRABAND EACH YEAR WHEN IT OUGHT TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT. MORE THAN 90% OF THOSE-- OF THAT 20% ARE SEARCHED ARE GENERALLY IN VIOLATION. I BELIEVE IT'S CLOSE TO OVER HALF HAVE BEEN-- HAD THEIR GUNS AND RIFLES CONFISCATED FROM THEM. THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS FOR THE PROBATION OFFICERS AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE QUITE IMPORTANT. I KNOW WE JUST HAD ANOTHER DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN AN AREA THAT I REPRESENT THIS PAST DAY AND THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS WITHIN OUR-- WITH OUR SCHOOLS WHERE THOSE TYPES OF RESOURCES ARE-- COULD BE PUT TO GOOD USE. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY REQUESTED 45 CRITICAL POSITIONS BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE THEM. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AS WELL REQUESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT HE DIDN'T RECEIVE, AND YET THE D.A. AND PUBLIC DEFENDER HAVE OVERLOAD OF CASES THAT NEEDS TO BE REDUCED. LIBRARIES, THEY REQUESTED $1 BILLION AND RECEIVED $122 MILLION. YET STILL SOME OF OUR LIBRARIES ARE ONLY OPEN FOUR DAYS A WEEK, SEVEN HOURS A DAY AND THERE NEEDS TO BE ADDITIONAL OPERATION OF OUR LIBRARIES AS FULL TIME RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS. SOME LIBRARIES HAVE COMPUTERS THAT ARE OVER 10 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. 11.1 MILLION WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE UP TO DATE COMPUTERS AT ALL LIBRARIES FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND OTHER GENERAL SERVICES. AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION REQUESTED 108 MILLION BUT DID NOT RECEIVE THAT TO EXPAND THEIR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN THE PARKS AND PROVIDE THOSE PROGRAMS AND PARKS THAT CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE SUCH PROGRAMS. AND THERE'S A VERY BIG NEED FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS SO THAT KIDS, LATCHKEY CHILDREN HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEND THEIR TIME WITH THEIR HOMEWORK AND LEARNING CONSTRUCTIVE HOBBIES INSTEAD OF BEING OUT ON THE STREETS GETTING INTO CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE IN THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US AND THAT IS NOT MEETING A LOT OF THOSE NEEDS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR KNABE?
SUP. KNABE: MAYOR, I HAD A-- I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET ALL THAT MONEY TO SPEND FOR ALL THOSE PROGRAMS. THAT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD DO THAT, MR. MAYOR, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR I GUESS THE C.A.O. AS IT RELATES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THIS ADDITIONAL STAFF AND...
SUP. MOLINA: ME, TOO.
SUP. KNABE: ...AND WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS STAFF IS GOING TO ACTUALLY HELP US, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR-- I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO USE TO MONITOR THIS PROCESS TO HELP US DRAW DOWN ON THIS $9 MILLION THAT WE SAY WE LOSE EACH YEAR IN FEDERAL DOLLARS? SO I, YOU KNOW...
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: IS DAVID STILL HERE?
SUP. KNABE: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF NEW PROGRAMS, THAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE USED TO DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO AS WELL AS TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, TAKE DOWN SOME OF THIS FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I THINK-- I DON'T KNOW IF-- YES, DAVID IS STILL HERE. HE MAY WANT TO ANSWER THAT AS WELL. THERE ARE SPECIFIC-- THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR SPENDING THAT MONEY. IN THE REQUEST.
SUP. KNABE: YOU MEAN-- BUT IS IT FOR THIS PROGRAM OR NEW PROGRAMS?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: CONCURRENT PLANNING REDESIGN IS AN EXPANSION. PERMANENT PARTNERS PROGRAM-- THEY ARE EXPANDING THINGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PILOTS INTO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND SUCCESSFUL, SO THAT THE TWO EMERGENCY RESPONSE STAFF IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, I THINK. THAT'S JUST FOR THE HOTLINE TO IMPROVE THAT. MENTORING, I THINK, WAS A BOARD DIRECTION, ACTUALLY, MENTORING PROGRAM. KINSHIP, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL-- KINSHIP SUPPORT, MOST OF THE KIDS ARE WITH FAMILIES. THAT'S TO IMPROVE THAT. CONCURRENT PLANNING REDESIGN, PERMANENCY PARTNERS, TEAM DECISION MAKING ARE PROBABLY THE THREE THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AS NEW BUT WITH THAT, LET ME ASK DAVID TO RESPOND.
SUP. KNABE: YOU MEAN, IS IT POSSIBLE OR FEASIBLE TO SLOW GROW THE DEPARTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST APPROVE A FEW OF THE POSITIONS AND THEN READJUST AT MID YEAR, YOU KNOW, BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS INSTEAD OF DOING THIS ALL AT ONCE? I THINK WE ALL-- SUPERVISOR MOLINA HAS A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS AS WELL, TOO, IN REGARD TO THIS. IT'S A PRETTY BIG HIT RIGHT AWAY AND, INSTEAD OF SORT OF REINFORCING, IT APPEARS TO BE NEW PROGRAMS.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR KNABE, AS MR. JANSSEN MENTIONED, THE THREE BIG AREAS, THE CONCURRENT PLANNING, THE PERMANENCY PARTNERS AND TEAM DECISION MAKING ARE EXPANSIONS OF WORK THAT'S ALREADY GOING ON. I WOULD ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE PERMANENCY PARTNERSHIP, THE P-3 PROGRAM, THOSE STAFF ARE NOT PERMANENTLY IN THE BUDGET. THEY ACTUALLY GO AWAY, I BELIEVE, IT'S IN '08/'09 BECAUSE THE FOCUS IS ON OLDER YOUTH WHO'VE BEEN IN CARE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND FINDING PERMANENT FAMILIES FOR THEM. AS THAT POPULATION GOES DOWN, WE DON'T NEED THOSE EFFORTS ANY MORE BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE CHILDREN WHO CAME INTO CARE PRIMARILY IN THE LATE '90S. THE OTHER INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN PART OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE IDEA IS TO EXPAND THEM DEPARTMENT-WIDE OR TO EXPAND, IN THE CASES OF TEAM DECISION MAKING, TO EXPAND BEYOND JUST THE INITIAL DECISION AROUND DETENTION AND TO LOOK AT OTHER KEY DECISIONS. WE HAVE SOME SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WE BELIEVE ARE CRITICAL TO ACHIEVE WITH THE SERVICE EXPANSION. IN TERMS OF THE-- WHETHER THEY COULD BE ROLLED OUT, WE'VE SET A VERY AMBITIOUS AGENDA AND THE IDEA IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IMPROVING THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE EXPECTED OF US AND CERTAINLY ARE CRITICAL FOR KIDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS REPRESENTS, IS REALLY A VERY AMBITIOUS AGENDA.
SUP. KNABE: WELL, BUT THAT ONE REFERENCE YOU MADE ABOUT PROGRAMS, JOBS GOING AWAY, AREN'T THOSE ORDINANCE POSITIONS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THEY ACTUALLY ARE STRUCTURED IN THE BUDGET, I KNOW, TO-- AT LEAST IN THE BUDGET MESSAGE THAT WE HAD RECEIVED IS THAT THEY WILL BE ELIMINATED IN '08/'09. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE ELIMINATED AND THAT'S, I BELIEVE, 94 POSITIONS FOR P-3.
SUP. KNABE: I KNOW SUPERVISOR MOLINA HAS SOME QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THE TABLE IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THIS AND I AM GOING TO HAVE MY STAFF PASS IT OUT. BUT, BASICALLY, IT MOVES THAT THE BOARD INSTRUCT THE C.A.O. TO REPORT BACK IN THE JUNE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS-- WOOPS-- WITH A FISCAL AND HIRING PLAN TO-- WHERE AM I HERE? EXCUSE ME. I HAVE THE WRONG ONE THERE. I APOLOGIZE. TO EXPLAIN HOW THE OVERALL IMPACT THAT PROPOSED 466 ADDITIONAL STAFF WILL BE MEASURED AS WELL AS THE FEASIBILITY OF APPROVING A PORTION OF THE ITEMS IN JUNE AND REVISITING THAT NEED FOR THE REMAINING ITEMS AT MID FISCAL YEAR IN JANUARY 2007. SO I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE AS IT RELATES TO THIS AND I'LL LET-- SUPERVISOR MOLINA HAS SOME QUESTIONS.
SUP. MOLINA: I'M SORRY. I DON'T HAVE YOUR MOTION BEFOREHAND. MY CONCERN IS IS THAT I-- THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND IS THIS MONEY GOING TO BE LEVERAGED ALREADY, THE 16?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, THE LEVERAGING IS FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THE NET COUNTY COSTS. THERE WOULD NOT BE STATE DOLLARS THAT COME IN BUT FEDERAL DOLLARS, YES.
SUP. MOLINA: SO IS THE 16 MILLION INCLUSIVE OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, I BELIEVE THAT'S NET COUNTY COST.
SUP. MOLINA: THEN WHAT ARE WE LEVERAGING IT? WHAT IS THE TOTAL PROPOSAL? IT'S MORE THAN 16 MILLION?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IF YOU LOOK IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT UNDER-- LET ME SEE IF THIS ACTUALLY WORKS.
SUP. MOLINA: SO THE ACTUAL NET COST OF THIS 229 POSITIONS IS NOT REALLY 8.7 MILLION, IT'S MUCH MORE? IS THAT WHAT THIS SAYS?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: CONCURRENT PLANNING REDESIGN, NET COUNTY COST, 8.6 MILLION, 229 STAFF, TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS, 16.6, SO WE'RE PICKING UP, ALMOST DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR FOR THAT, AN ADDITIONAL 7.9 MILLION.
SUP. MOLINA: SO DO I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THESE 229 POSITIONS FOR THE CONCURRENT PLANNING REDESIGN ARE GOING TO COST ME 16 MILLION?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THEY WILL COST YOU 16.6 MILLION.
SUP. MOLINA: AND SO THEN THE 94 POSITIONS ARE GOING TO COST ME 4.8 MILLION?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: 94 POSITIONS WILL COST YOU 4.6 MILLION, IF THAT'S THE P-3 PROGRAM.
SUP. MOLINA: RIGHT. SO THEN I'M GOING TO DOUBLE IT. SO THIS IS A 32-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM RIGHT HERE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT'S-- WELL, I SIMPLY HAVE TO ADD THEY'RE IN THE BUDGET HERE BUT IT'S MORE THAN-- THAT'S MORE THAT'S ON THE SHEET, YES.
SUP. MOLINA: IT'S JUST THAT I WANTED TO-- WHERE'D SUPERVISOR KNABE GO? THAT IT IS NOT A 16-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM, IT'S A 32-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT. THAT'S NET COUNTY COST. IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD HAVE TO ADD IT SPECIFIC BUT IT IS MORE, RIGHT. IT'S A BIGGER PROGRAM.
SUP. MOLINA: ALL RIGHT. AND SO I-- AND I WOULD AGREE WITH HIS MOTION. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALL BUT BASICALLY I'M EQUALLY AS CONCERNED. THIS DEPARTMENT, I NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW TO MEASURE ITS OUTCOMES BECAUSE, EVERY TIME I ASK IT FOR DATA, IT'S ALWAYS IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING IT. I NEVER GOT THE-- I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE I.L.P. DATA AND WHETHER ALL KIDS HAVE THEIR I.L.P. AND HOW OFTEN IT'S REVIEWED. FOSTER KIDS. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHICH ONES ARE IN MY HIGH SCHOOLS. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT. AND THEY TRY THE PRIVACY THING, FIRST THING. THAT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST, SAYING, "OH, NO, WE CAN'T LET YOU KNOW." AND THEN, WHEN I GET THROUGH THAT, THEN "WE REALLY DON'T KNOW." I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE-- AND I THINK, SUPERVISOR KNABE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A 16-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM, IT'S A 32-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM.
SUP. KNABE: RIGHT.
SUP. MOLINA: SO WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND I DON'T-- I DON'T-- THIS-- THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING MORE EFFECTIVE TO CONVINCE ME THAT IT KNOWS HOW TO USE THIS MONEY WELL. BY USING WORDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "CONCURRENT PLANNING REDESIGN," I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DECIDING EVERY SINGLE DAY THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. IF THE SOCIAL WORKER THAT THE CHILD GETS TODAY IS NOT WORKING ON THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD EVERY DAY, THAT IS, GETTING THEM TOWARD PERMANENT ADOPTION, THEN I NEED TO KNOW WHY I HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER AT ALL. WHAT DOES SHE PHYSICALLY DO OTHER THAN, WHAT, MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILD GOES TO SCHOOL, MAKE SURE THE CHILD GOES TO THE DOCTOR? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE, EVERY TIME WE ASK A SOCIAL WORKER WHERE A FOSTER CHILD IS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HIGH SCHOOL THEY BELONG TO. AND WHEN WE DO FIND OUT THAT SHE KNOWS, WE CHECK THE INFORMATION AND THE KID ISN'T THERE. SO I WOULD NEED TO KNOW AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR-- SUPERVISOR KNABE'S MOTION BASICALLY SAYS YOU SHOULD TELL US HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE MEASURED. AND MY STAFF IS TELLING ME THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE SOME REDESIGN MEASUREMENTS, SHORTENED TIME LINES. WELL, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIME LINE IS NOW. AND SO IF-- AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO ME AND SAY, IT'S GOING TO BE AN 18% CHANGE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HERE'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND. 4,000 MORE KIDS WILL BE ADOPTED BY NEXT YEAR THAN WERE ADOPTED LAST YEAR IF I GIVE YOU 32 MILLION. I UNDERSTAND THOSE NUMBERS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THOSE NUMBERS, DON? WELL, WE NEVER GET THOSE NUMBERS. WE ALWAYS GET PERCENTAGES OR WE ALWAYS GET "OUTCOMES WILL BE IMPROVED," BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. WHEN ANYBODY TELLS ME THAT I'M GOING TO GET $32 MILLION, IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, WE ARE BUYING SERVICES FOR THE TAXPAYERS RIGHT NOW WITH THIS BUDGET AND IF I'M BUYING A SERVICE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I GET AT THE END OF THE INVESTMENT. SO, FOR $32 MILLION, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TELL ME I GET A SHORTENED TIME LINE WHEN I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE TIME LINE IS TODAY.
SUP. KNABE: THAT'S WHAT MY MOTION IS, THE SORT OF SLOW GROWTH THIS THING...
SUP. MOLINA: WELL, AND THAT'S-- YOUR MOTION IS GOOD AND IT HAS THAT, EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S A 14%...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: COULD WE GET HIM TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BECAUSE IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION. I'D JUST LIKE TO HEAR HIS ANSWER TO IT.
SUP. MOLINA: WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE HAS AN ANSWER. I'D BE IMPRESSED.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: DAVID? WELL, IF HE DOESN'T, WE OUGHT TO KNOW THAT, TOO, BUT DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS HER-- ANSWER THOSE CONCERNS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, ACTUALLY, WE DO HAVE-- FOR EXAMPLE, I CAN GIVE THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN CARE FOR CHILDREN.
SUP. MOLINA: NO, PER CHILD-- YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME THE OVERALL CARE.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: NO, NO, NO, SUPERVISOR MOLINA. WHAT WE HAVE IS THE AVERAGE CHILD, MEDIAN NUMBER OF DAYS IN CARE THAT A CHILD SPENDS IN '02 WAS 1,100 DAYS. TODAY, IT'S 639 DAYS. WE EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN SO THAT CHILDREN ARE GETTING TO PERMANENCY. WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TIME LINES, IT'S SPECIFIC TO GETTING TO LEGAL PERMANENCY, EITHER REUNIFICATION, ADOPTION, OR A LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP AND WE HAVE A FOCUS ON THE DAYS IN CARE THAT CHILDREN SPEND SO THAT WE CAN GET TO LEGAL PERMANENCY MUCH MORE QUICKLY SO KIDS AREN'T SPENDING ADDITIONAL TIME IN CARE. THE PERCENTAGES THAT WE GAVE ARE ACTUALLY PERCENTAGES THAT ARE SET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE REUNIFIED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PLACEMENT AND CHILDREN WHO ARE ADOPTED WITHIN TWO YEARS OF PLACEMENT. AND SO, AGAIN, WITH THE FOCUS ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET TO LEGAL PERMANENCY. THE OTHER AREA THAT WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON IS...
SUP. MOLINA: WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. LET'S STOP. 600-- LET'S STOP WITH THE 600 DAYS. SO, RIGHT NOW, IF A CHILD IS TURNED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT, OKAY, WHEN DOES THAT DAY START? DOES THAT DAY START THE DAY THE CHILD ARRIVES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR THE DAY THAT A JUDGE EMANCIPATES THE CHILD?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, IT STARTS THE DAY A CHILD GOES INTO OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT.
SUP. MOLINA: SO STARTS THE DAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES THE CHILD?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THAT THE CHILD GOES INTO OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT. AND SO IF THAT...
SUP. MOLINA: WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SOME CHILDREN ARE SERVED WITHIN THEIR OWN FAMILIES, SO THOSE ARE NOT BEING COUNTED IN THE NUMBER THAT I'M MENTIONING. IT'S WHEN THEY GO INTO...
SUP. MOLINA: EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE STILL FOSTER CHILDREN?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: ...FOSTER CARE. I'M SORRY?
SUP. MOLINA: EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE STILL FOSTER CHILDREN?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: NO, NO. IF THEY ARE FOSTER CHILDREN, THEY'VE GONE INTO OUT OF HOME CARE. SO IF THEY GO...
SUP. MOLINA: ALL RIGHT. SO THEN...
DR. DAVID SANDERS: ...WITH A RELATIVE OR A FOSTER CHILD.
SUP. MOLINA: LET'S JUST TALK FOR FOSTER CHILDREN. IF THEY'RE FOSTER CHILDREN, THE DAY THAT THEY GO INTO OUT OF HOME CARE IS THE DAY YOU START COUNTING?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY, SO 600 AND SOME ODD DAYS WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT? TWO YEARS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, YES.
SUP. MOLINA: ALL RIGHT. SO YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT, RIGHT NOW, ON AVERAGE, A CHILD THAT IS COMING INTO OUR SYSTEM IS STAYING LESS THAN TWO YEARS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, YES. FOR THE-- IT'S THE MEDIAN DAYS IN CARE. SO IT IS THOSE-- SO HALF THE NUMBER ABOVE AND HALF BELOW. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT NUMBER STARTED AT 1,100 THREE YEARS AGO.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: STARTED AT 1,100 THREE YEARS AGO. WE'RE PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH THE MOTION. WE THINK IT'S A GREAT MOTION.
SUP. MOLINA: NO, I UNDERSTAND.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: WE ABSOLUTELY THINK WE NEED TO PRODUCE THAT...
SUP. MOLINA: BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO COME BACK WITH INFORMATION I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: ABSOLUTELY. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
SUP. MOLINA: AND SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS I WOULD RATHER GET AT INFORMATION THAT I UNDERSTAND. RIGHT NOW, EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THESE THINGS THAT THEY GIVE ME, AND THEY DID GIVE ME SOMETHING, IT HAS SHORTENED TIME LINES.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT.
SUP. MOLINA: WELL, WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? THEN WHEN YOU GO TO THE 14, THEN YOU HAVE 14%, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK-- YOU WANT TO INCREASE TO WHAT PERCENT? 14 TO WHAT PERCENT? SO THAT MEANS-- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE WE GETTING OUT OF OUR SYSTEM FOR THE INCREASED $32 MILLION? AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. I THINK IT'S A SIMPLE NUMBER, IT'S A BASIC NUMBER, IT'S A NUMBER I UNDERSTAND. SO WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH THIS, AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD MOTION, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT SO THAT IT IS-- THESE MEASURED-- THAT WILL BE MEASURED AND I WANT IT TO BE UNDERSTOOD FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A CHILD, NOT NECESSARILY A PERCENTAGE AND NOT NECESSARILY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DAYS ON AVERAGE. I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: MR. CHAIRMAN?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ONE QUESTION. THIS WILL NOT SLOW DOWN HIS ABILITY TO HIRE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE MOTION?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO, NO. BECAUSE THIS IS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW POSITIONS NEXT YEAR. THIS WILL BE BACK IN DELIBERATIONS IN JUNE.
SUP. MOLINA: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING HIM. WHEN HE COMES BACK FOR BUDGET APPROVAL, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE, SUPPOSEDLY, A PROPOSED BUDGET.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT.
SUP. MOLINA: BUT, IN JUNE, WE'LL APPROVE THE BUDGET, WHICH WILL AUTHORIZE THE BEGINNING OF HIRING THE 400 AND SOME ODD...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THAT IS CORRECT, SO YOU'RE NOT WASTING ANY TIME IN BETWEEN.
SUP. MOLINA: THAT'S RIGHT. SO ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS THAT, IN BETWEEN THIS TIME, I GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT, ONCE I ALLOCATE THE $32 MILLION, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, FOR THE MOST PART, I'M GOING TO SEE THE FOLLOWING REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO ARE OUR WARDS AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS ANOTHER LAYER OF A SOCIAL WORKER WITH ANOTHER DIFFERENT KIND OF FAMILY WRAPAROUND SOCIAL WORKER AND ANOTHER SOCIAL WORKER HERE AND ANOTHER REDESIGNED SOCIAL WORKER AND THAT CHILDREN HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE, YOU THINK THIS IS BAD, IF YOU GO BACK AND TRACE HOW MANY TIMES A CHILD GOES THROUGH OUR OWN PROCESS, IT IS AMAZING, WHEREAS IF THEY HAD JUST ONE MOMMY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING, IT WOULD WORK JUST LIKE IT WORKS AT OUR HOMES INSTEAD OF DIFFUSING IT. AND THAT'S WHAT I GUESS I'M TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THEN EVERYBODY CAN TURN AROUND AND SAY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT MOMMY DIDN'T WATCH IT AND THAT MOMMY OVER THERE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF BUT IF THERE WAS JUST ONE, LIKE IN ANY KIND OF CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THEN IT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT DON MEANT BY CREATING NEW PROGRAMS BUT I'M EQUALLY AS TROUBLED BY THAT. SO I WOULD RATHER THAT IT BE A MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING THAT IS GOING TO BUY ME WHAT I WANT, IS I WANT THESE CHILDREN OUT OF OUR SYSTEM AND INTO SOME KIND OF A PERMANENT HOME OR BACK REUNITED WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY, BUT SO COULD WE HAVE THAT AND COULD WE HAVE IT MAYBE-- I KNOW THE TIME LINE IS SHORT, BUT AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR MOLINA, ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR FOCUS AND IF WE HAVEN'T MADE IT CLEAR ABOUT THE NUMBERS, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
SUP. MOLINA: IT IS NOT CLEAR.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL, ON THAT POINT, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AHEAD OF TIME, IF WE COULD ALL GET OUR QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT ANSWERED TO HIM SO THAT WE GET ONE COMPREHENSIVE SET OF ANSWERS SO WE CAN ALL LOOK AT IT WHEN WE GET TOGETHER IN JUNE AND NOT SPRING THINGS ON HIM AT THE END OF JUNE UNLESS THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY UNANTICIPATED.
SUP. KNABE: WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I KNOW IT'S NOT BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, TOO. I HAVE ASKED YOU SOME QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THIS AND I'M SATISFIED WITH THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING, BUT I THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE QUESTIONS WE WANT YOU TO ANSWER, LET YOU ANSWER THEM, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION, AN INFORMED DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
SUP. MOLINA: RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING THAT, IF IF WE HAVE THE INFORMATION BEFOREHAND, THAT WAY, THE DAY THE DELIBERATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE A TOUGH DAY TO DO IT, I WOULD RATHER THAT WE WOULD HAVE IT SO WE COULD SEE IT BUT DON IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH HIS MOTION, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD. SO...
SUP. KNABE: NO, I'M FINE WITH THAT. I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE SECONDING MY MOTION WITH THAT.
SUP. MOLINA: OH, YES, I WILL. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT...
SUP. KNABE: I MEAN, I WOULD PREFER, I THINK WE ALL WOULD PREFER, PARTICULARLY SINCE PART OF MY MOTION SPEAKS IN TERMS OF SLOW GROWTH, THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE IT PRIOR TO THE DELIBERATIONS A FEW WEEKS, A COUPLE WEEKS AHEAD OF TIME.
SUP. MOLINA: DID YOU HAVE OTHER ISSUES?
SUP. KNABE: NO. NOT ON THIS ONE, NOT ON D.C.F.S.
SUP. MOLINA: OH, I DON'T EITHER ON THIS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I DO. IF I CAN GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION HERE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THANK YOU. WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL BUDGET?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: APPROXIMATELY 1.45 BILLION.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AND THIS IS A 16 OR 32-MILLION-DOLLAR INCREASE, THIS PORTION OF YOUR BUDGET, RIGHT?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: IN PLAIN ENGLISH, WHAT IS THE-- THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING CAN UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS INVESTMENT?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: TO SHORTEN THE TIME THAT CHILDREN SPEND IN OUT OF HOME CARE SO THAT-- AND TO GET THEM TO PERMANENT FAMILIES AND TO IMPROVE SAFETY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ALL RIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CREATE ANY NEW PROGRAMS IN ANY OF THIS STUFF, WITH ANY OF THESE MONEYS, IT IS ALL AIMED AT SHORTENING THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY ARE IN CARE?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: AND IMPROVE SAFETY, YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AND IMPROVE SAFETY. IMPROVE SAFETY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CARE?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: FOR BOTH THOSE-- ALL OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE, YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: JUST WALK ME THROUGH WHAT'S TRANSPIRED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS IN THIS COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO ARE-- THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO ARE IN CARE AND WHAT THE TREND HAS BEEN. PICK A DATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR-- OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHETHER YOU KNOW 1995, 2000, WHATEVER AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: WE-- IN 19-- I BELIEVE IT WAS 1998, THE COUNTY PEAKED IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT. THERE WERE ABOUT 48,000 CHILDREN IN OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT THEN. WE ARE AT ABOUT 22,300 TODAY, AND SO-- AND THAT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT TREND. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES INTO CARE HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE BUT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN CARE HAS GONE DOWN BECAUSE THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY'VE SPENT IN CARE HAS GONE DOWN. SO, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN ABOUT A 6,000 CHILD DECREASE IN THE CHILDREN IN CARE AND IT IS BECAUSE THEY'VE SPENT LESS TIME IN CARE.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THE LAST THREE YEARS AND GOING BACK TO '98, IT WAS ABOUT 47,000.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: IT WAS 47, 47,000 NOW IT'S 22,000, SO THAT WAS A BETTER THAN 50% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN OUR SYSTEM.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: CORRECT. AND IT CONTINUES TO DROP AS WE SPEAK?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: YES. IT HAS GONE DOWN SO FAR THIS YEAR BY SEVERAL HUNDRED, YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AND YOUR AIM, IN REQUESTING THIS, IS TO ACCELERATE THAT PACE, MAINTAIN IT? WHAT ARE YOU...?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY, WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT CHILDREN SPEND IN CARE. SO, AS I HAD MENTIONED TO SUPERVISOR MOLINA, IT IS, TODAY, ABOUT 639 DAYS IS THE MEDIAN DAYS IN CARE. I BELIEVE THAT NUMBER CAN BE CUT IN HALF AND THAT'S THE GOAL, JUST TO HAVE CHILDREN SPENT...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THE 600 FIGURE CAN BE CUT IN HALF?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: YES, TO HAVE CHILDREN SPEND MUCH LESS TIME IN OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT AND GET THEM TO LEGAL PERMANENCY, EITHER REUNIFICATION OR ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I THINK IT'S A REMARKABLE THING. I MEAN, WE-- OBVIOUSLY, GOOD NEWS IS NOT NEWS BUT, AROUND HERE, GOOD NEWS IS SO UNUSUAL THAT IT OUGHT TO BE NEWS. THIS IS-- WHEN I GOT HERE AND FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS I WAS HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY USED TO TALK ABOUT, THE CONSTITUENTS IN MEETINGS IN MY COMMUNITY, WAS THE LARGE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT WERE UNDER OUR CARE, UNDER OUR PROTECTION, WHICH, TO PARAPHRASE MR. ANTONOVICH, IF THEY WERE THEIR OWN CITY, THEY'D BE ONE OF THE TEN LARGEST CITIES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, 48,000 OR 50,000 KIDS THAT WE HAD IN THE MID TO LATE '90S AND I WOULDN'T-- I WOULDN'T PUT ANYBODY THROUGH AN EXERCISE OF REPLAYING THE TAPES OF THE BOARDS MEETINGS IN THOSE DAYS, THE GENERAL MANAGERS WHO ARE SITTING HERE, BUT IT WAS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE AND WE TURNED THAT AROUND LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE WORK-- DIRECTION OF THE BOARD BUT LARGELY BECAUSE-- SINCE YOU'VE ARRIVED HERE. WHEN DID YOU ARRIVE HERE?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: IN 2003, EARLY 2003.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: EARLY 2003. SO YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST-- WELL, THREE YEARS, OVER THREE YEARS AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO HIGHLIGHT, I THINK WE OUGHT TO-- FIRST OF ALL, WE OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE IT. I THINK TAKING IT FROM 48,000 TO 22,000 IS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT, GIVEN WHAT WE WERE FACED WITH JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO. IF YOU CAN CUT THE LENGTH OF STAY IN HALF, AND THERE APPEARS TO BE A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LENGTH OF STAY AND THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN CARE, A LITTLE LESS THAN A 50% REDUCTION IN LENGTH OF STAY, A LITTLE MORE THAN A 50% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN CARE, SO IF THAT WERE TO REPEAT ITSELF, YOU COULD TAKE THAT 22,000 FIGURE DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, 12,000, 13,000, 14,000 KIDS UNDER OUR SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME THAT NUMBER OF KIDS UNDER OUR CARE WAS OPERATIVE BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT IN ANY-- YOU KNOW, MAYBE ANTONOVICH IS OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IT BUT THE REST OF US HAVEN'T BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT.
SUP. KNABE: OUCH. OUCH.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHAT?
SUP. KNABE: OUCH.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: OUCH. YEAH. WELL, HE'S YOUNG. HE'S GOT TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WHO KEEP HIM YOUNG BUT, SERIOUSLY, THE-- I THINK THIS IS A CREDIT TO THE DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT, YOU WANT TO DO BETTER, I THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN-- AND I THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TO US EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE AFTER, QUANTIFY IT AND, TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN, WHAT YOUR GOAL IS SO THAT THEY CAN BE MEASURED AND-- BUT IF YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE-- IF YOU THINK YOU CAN CUT THE LENGTH OF STAY BY HALF AGAIN, YOU'VE ALREADY CUT IT ALMOST IN HALF, YOU WANT TO CUT IT BY HALF AGAIN, YOU GOT MY VOTE. I'M WILLING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE ON YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION AT THE D.C.F.S. AND I WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO GO OUT TO MY COMMUNITIES AND BE ABLE TO SAY, "WE'VE CUT IT BY THREE-QUARTERS." NOT JUST HALF BUT BY THREE-QUARTERS. MY DAUGHTER IS WORKING UP IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO. THEY HAVE A DEAL, THEIR MAYOR TOOK A PAGE OUT OF BILL BRADEN'S BOOK, COMSTAT, THEY'VE GOT A S.F. STAT, WHICH IS SOMETHING SHE WORKS ON UP THERE AND IT IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER AT SOME POINT. WE'RE DOING IT, I KNOW WE'RE DOING IT BUT HIGHLIGHT IT, FOCUS ON IT, MAKE IT PART OF OUR-- HEY, DAVID, YOU KNOW, IT'S-- WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING YOU SAY BUT YOU'RE SO EXCITING AND SO CHARISMATIC-- BUT THOSE MACRO NUMBERS, THAT MACRO PICTURE TELLS YOU A LOT. I DO BELIEVE IN SEEING IT THROUGH THE EYES OF AN INDIVIDUAL, TOO, THAT HELPS HUMANIZE IT. BUT THE OVERALL TRENDS, CERTAINLY WHEN THEY'RE NOT GOING IN OUR DIRECTION, IT'S POINTED OUT TO US BY EVERY TOM, DICK AND HARRY AND, WHEN THEY'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE OUGHT TO REWARD IT AND ACCELERATE IT BECAUSE SOMETHING'S WORKING. NOW, IT'S NOT PERFECT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IN THIS ORGANIZATION IS PERFECT BUT IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. I WANT TO SAY THAT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DAVID POINTED OUT THAT ISSUE. I WANT TO REPEAT IT AGAIN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A 300-MILLION-DOLLAR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND I TALKED TO-- GARY IS HERE, MY INSTINCTS TOLD ME THAT THE $300 MILLION TODAY IS JUST NOT WHAT 655 WAS 11 YEARS AGO, WHICH IS WHAT-- 655 MILLION WAS OUR DEFICIT, AND, AS IT TURNED OUT, HE POINTED IT OUT IN PLAIN ENGLISH THAT, 10 YEARS AGO, OUR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT WAS 30-- ALMOST 30% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. TODAY, IT'S 8% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A PRETTY PICTURE TO HAVE A $300 MILLION DEFICIT. BUT IT'S ONLY-- THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL BUDGET WAS REDUCED BY ALMOST THREE-FOURTHS OR MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE-FOURTHS. THAT'S A GOOD THING. WE GET SO CAUGHT UP, ALL OF US, IN POLITICS, IN TRYING TO ZERO IN ON-- AND THE PRESS DOES FOR SURE ON WHAT GOES WRONG THAT SOMETIMES IT'S NICE TO POINT OUT WHEN SOMETHING'S GOING RIGHT. THIS BOARD HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO THAT POINT. THIS BOARD DID A LOT OF WORK TO TRY TO GET YOUR NUMBERS DOWN, THE CHILDREN IN CARE DOWN AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP SINCE YOU HAVE ARRIVED HERE OVER THESE LAST THREE YEARS, SO I THINK THESE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED, I THINK THEY'RE LEGITIMATE, I HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO WRITE YOU A CHECK FOR 16 MILLION IF YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU EXPECT-- HOW YOU EXPECT TO SPEND IT AND WHAT YOU EXPECT TO GET OUT OF IT BUT IF, IN FACT, YOU HAVE A PLAN AND YOU CAN QUANTIFY IT, QUANTIFY A GOAL AND IT'S THIS KIND OF A GOAL WITH THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS, AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS, WE OUGHT TO JUST KEEP BETTING ON THIS HORSE.
SUP. KNABE: I AGREE, ZEV. I MEAN, THE PURPOSE OF MY MOTION IS NOT NEGATIVE. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AND SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, TO FOCUS ON THE REWARDS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS AND THEN TRY TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT DRIVING SOME OTHER NEW PROGRAM THAT'S NOT FIRMING UP WHAT WE HAVE TO KEEP THE NUMBERS GOING THE SAME WAY AND THAT'S ALL.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: DAVID, HOW HAS THE CONCURRENT PROGRAM-- OR PLANNING ASSISTED CHILDREN WITH ADOPTIONS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED CONCURRENT PLANNING IN FIVE OFFICES AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE OFFICES BEFORE CONCURRENT PLANNING AND AFTER AND WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT THEM COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER OFFICES AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS THAT THE TIME TO FINALIZED ADOPTION-- LET ME JUST BACK UP. THE TIME TO COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY FOR FAMILIES HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE TIME TO FINALIZE ADOPTIONS HAS IMPROVED BY ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS IN THOSE OFFICES THAT HAVE DONE CONCURRENT PLANNING REDESIGN. SO FROM THE INITIAL PLACEMENT TO AN ACTUAL FINALIZED ADOPTION AND THE BIG PART OF THAT IS WE ARE COMPLETING THE HOME STUDIES BEFORE THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS SO THE FAMILY IS READY TO STEP IN AND ADOPT THE FAMILY-- ADOPT THE CHILD AS SOON AS THERE'S BEEN A TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: HOW HAS THE P-3 PROGRAM ASSISTED WITH PERMANENCY?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH, MAYOR ANTONOVICH, P-3 PROGRAM FOCUSES ON OLDER YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN CARE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS WITH AN ORDER, A COURT ORDER OF LONG-TERM FOSTER CARE. AND SO, IN SIMPLE TERMS, THAT MEANS THAT THE COURT HAS SAID THOSE CHILDREN WILL NEVER GO HOME AND THEY WILL NEVER HAVE A LEGALLY PERMANENT FAMILY. WE'VE ASSIGNED THE P-3 WORKERS TO THOSE CHILDREN AND, IN ABOUT 33% OF THE CASES, WE'VE ACTUALLY FOUND A LEGAL PERMANENT FAMILY FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WHAT PERCENTAGE?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: 33%, SO THOSE ARE CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GROWN UP IN OUR SYSTEM AND ABOUT 33% HAVE A LEGAL PERMANENT RESOLUTION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: IS THAT THE PART OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S ADOPTING OLDER CHILDREN OR FOSTER YOUTH?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A BONUS FOR ADOPTING OLDER CHILDREN AND IT'S ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED BY STATE AND SO WHETHER WE GET A BONUS IN LOS ANGELES IS REALLY DEPENDENT ON HOW THE OVERALL STATE PERFORMS, BUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT'S BEING DONE WITH P-3 WOULD BE THE KINDS OF WORK THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR A BONUS BECAUSE IT IS THE ADOPTIONS OF CHILDREN, I BELIEVE, 12 AND OLDER.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO WE ACHIEVED A GOAL OF 33%. WHAT WAS IT IN PRIOR YEARS?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH, THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO WOULD HAVE GROWN UP IN OUR SYSTEM, THEY WOULD HAVE NOT HAD ANY LEGAL PERMANENCY BECAUSE WE HAD STOPPED LOOKING FOR IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO WE WENT BASICALLY ZERO TO 33%.
DR. DAVID SANDERS: THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. KNABE: WHAT DOES THE 33%, LIKE, GIVE US A NUMBER. WHAT DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO?
DR. DAVID SANDERS: WE SERVE ABOUT-- WITH THE INITIAL ALLOCATION OF P-3 STAFF, WE SERVED ABOUT 500 CHILDREN, SO ABOUT 33% OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE-- EITHER HAD A-- IN SOME CASES THEY REUNIFIED. IN MOST CASES, THEY MOVED TO A RELATIVE WITH LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP AND, IN SOME CASES, THEY WERE ADOPTED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THAT'S REMARKABLE. GOOD JOB. OKAY. OTHER COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR MOLINA?
SUP. MOLINA: NOT ON THIS ISSUE. ON MENTAL HEALTH. IN THE STRUCTURAL-- YOU DON'T NEED A WHOLE STAFF. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. YOU LOOK AROUND LIKE-- ON THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT THEY HAVE, IS IT-- IT'S INCREASING EVERY YEAR?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO. IT'S REMAINING ALMOST CONSTANT. IT'S BEEN $40 MILLION FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY HAVE BEEN...
SUP. MOLINA: AND IT ALWAYS GETS FIXED AT THE END OF THE YEAR?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT HAS SO FAR.
SUP. MOLINA: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BECAUSE, WHAT, THEY HAVE STAFF POSITIONS THEY DON'T HIRE?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO. IT'S, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I THINK THE DATA WILL SHOW THAT THEY HAVE, IN FUND BALANCE, HAD MORE MONEY THAN THEY EXPECTED AND THAT'S APPLIED TO KEEPING THE FUND.
SUP. MOLINA: I UNDERSTAND.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THAT'S ALL.
SUP. MOLINA: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THEY GOT REIMBURSED?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THEY'LL GET REIMBURSED FROM THE STATE THAT THEY DIDN'T EXPECT FROM PRIOR YEARS, THAT KIND OF THING.
SUP. MOLINA: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I-- ISN'T THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THAT BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE, SUPERVISOR, AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK IS GOING ON.
SUP. MOLINA: BECAUSE ISN'T THAT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS TO THE NONPROFITS AS WELL, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THE PROBLEM HERE, I THINK, AND MARV OBVIOUSLY CAN ANSWER IT BETTER IS THAT, OVER THE YEARS, MENTAL HEALTH HAS-- THEY HAD RESERVES-- LARGE RESERVES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEY BASED THEIR PROGRAM AT A SPENDING LEVEL AS IF THOSE RESERVES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AND WE HAVE TRIED, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND UNDERSTANDABLE, IT'S HARD TO CUT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND THIS IS JUST A PORTION OF HIS BUDGET. THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF HIS BUDGET FOR THE INDIGENT POPULATION, IN THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE VERY HARD TO ELIMINATE. THE PROGRAM ISN'T BIG TO BEGIN WITH SO, REALLY, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS...
SUP. MOLINA: I DON'T WANT TO ELIMINATE IT; I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: SO WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE...
SUP. MOLINA: NO. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THAT. I WANT TO KNOW, HOW DO I HAVE A 40 MILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET YEAR AND I DON'T HAVE IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WELL, THIS YEAR...
SUP. MOLINA: NOW, I COULD REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND THE WAY WE MADE IT UP WAS THROUGH FUND BALANCE AND FUND BALANCE WE COLLECTED FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE BASICALLY POSITIONS THAT THEY DIDN'T FILL, PROGRAMS THEY DIDN'T ROLL OUT. SO HOW DOES THIS DEPARTMENT DO IT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: LET ME AND MARV TO DO THAT BUT WE DID ADD GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR TO THE PROGRAM AS A BRIDGE TO HELP KEEP THE PROGRAMS GOING.
SUP. MOLINA: SO THIS YEAR IT WAS?
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: IT WAS A COMBINATION OF FUND BALANCE AND ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND.
SUP. MOLINA: AND HOW MUCH FUND BALANCE WENT IN-- I MEAN, HOW MUCH OF OUR GENERAL FUND WENT IN?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I THINK IT WAS EITHER 10 OR 13 MILLION. $10 MILLION. THAT WE ADDED IN THE FALL.
SUP. MOLINA: SO IS THAT ONGOING KIND OF...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO, IT WASN'T.
SUP. MOLINA: IT WASN'T?
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: ONGOING. IT WAS...
SUP. MOLINA: I UNDERSTAND IT WASN'T BUT...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: COULD BE.
SUP. MOLINA: WHAT WE DO KNOW IS ONGOING IS 45 MILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT. THAT WE DO KNOW.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY. WE KNOW THAT'S ONGOING. ALL RIGHT. SO I GUESS THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT SHOULD WE NOW START LOOKING AT HOW TO GET IT STRUCTURALLY TO COME DOWN OR...?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WHAT WE EXPECT THE DEPARTMENT TO DO, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE DOING WITH THEIR STAKEHOLDERS, IS TO BE READY IN JUNE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD SPEND THE GENERAL FUND THAT'S AVAILABLE, WHAT THEY WOULD STOP DOING AND WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS SO THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT A PLEASANT ONE, TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROGRAM IS GOING TO STOP OR YOU'RE GOING TO FIND MONEY ELSEWHERE IN THE BUDGET TO KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY. I THINK THAT'S A MORE HONEST WAY TO APPROACH IT, EXACTLY, IS TO FIND OUT WHEN THAT'S GOING TO STOP SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FUND AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO ON SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, RIGHT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT. THAT IS THE INTENT.
SUP. MOLINA: BUT IF IT IS BECAUSE OF DELAYED FUNDING, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A PROBLEM IN THIS DEPARTMENT, NOT SO MUCH A PROBLEM, IT'S THE NATURE OF HOW THIS DEPARTMENT WORKS, WHICH IS ALSO THE NATURE OF HOW WE FUND OUR NONPROFITS AND THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. THEN WE HAVE TO CREATE SOME KIND OF A MECHANISM AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET, BECAUSE I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET BUT, BASICALLY, WHETHER YOU CALL IT THE ENTERPRISE FUND OR HOWEVER YOU DO IT, THERE'S ALWAYS A RESERVE THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING THAT GETS FILLED FROM YEARS, RIGHT, SOMEHOW AND THAT'S GETTING DEPLETED ALL THE TIME, BUT I GUESS WE-- SHOULDN'T WE FIND A WAY, WHEN WE HAVE THESE ONE-TIME MONEYS, THAT WOULD CREATE A BETTER MECHANISM, THAT'S A MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD APPROACH AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS-- BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. IT LOOKS LIKE-- IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DON'T-- AND IT MAY BE THE CASE, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE OUT THERE.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
SUP. MOLINA: WELL, BUT WE GET SORT OF REIMBURSED ON SOME OF IT. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO HAVE THAT LAID OUT FOR YOU IN JUNE DURING DELIBERATIONS.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY. BECAUSE I NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THAT-- I MEAN, IT'S BEEN, LIKE, 10 YEARS. IT'S ALWAYS, LIKE, AND SOMETIMES IT'S BIGGER AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY HAVE A RESERVE.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THEY USED TO HAVE RESERVES.
SUP. MOLINA: ONE TIME, WE RIPPED OFF YOUR RESERVE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: 10 MILLION, BUT THEY PAID IT BACK WITH INTEREST.
SUP. MOLINA: I KNOW WE PAID IT BACK BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, I REMEMBER WHEN THEY HAD IT AND WE TOOK IT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND THEN BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS INFLUX OF NEW MONEY, ALL RIGHT? NOW, I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO SUPPLANT ANY OF IT OR SHOULD AND IT'S ILLEGAL TO DO SO ANYWAY BUT, AS WE LOOK AT CREATING SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE NEED TO BE INCORPORATED. I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS WE HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER OF INDIGENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. AND, CONSEQUENTLY, AND NEEDIER WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH. AS WE START LOOKING AT THAT SKID ROW POPULATION, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TOTAL INDIGENTS WHO ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE EXPENSIVE STUFF, NOT THE, YOU KNOW, COUNSELING ONCE A MONTH BUT THE REAL EXPENSIVE STUFF. AND SO, CONSEQUENTLY, AS WE WANT TO DO MORE OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. SO I GUESS I WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IF IT IS GOING TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE OR THE FEDS SOMEHOW, SHOULD WE CREATE A ONE-TIME RESERVE SO THAT A, YOU KNOW, ROTATES AROUND DIFFERENTLY? BUT I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW IT WORKS, DAVID, SO YOU'D HAVE TO...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WE WILL DO THAT AS PART OF DELIBERATIONS.
SUP. MOLINA: IT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR AGAIN WHEN WE LOOK FOR IT IN JUNE.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: OKAY. GOOD.
SUP. MOLINA: THE OTHER ISSUE IS-- AND NOT IN THIS DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU, MARV, IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, I THINK IT WAS AROUND FEBRUARY, MIGHT HAVE BEEN, THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AND WE REQUESTED A TASK FORCE COME TOGETHER SO YOU ALL COULD FIGURE OUT SO YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL US WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO RECRUIT MORE DEPUTIES.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT.
SUP. MOLINA: NOW, THE SHERIFF CLAIMS THAT HE HAS A GRAND PLAN BUT THE NUMBERS DON'T REFLECT IT AND, EVEN WITH THE NEW DOLLARS THAT WE PUT IN, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN ENOUGH DEPUTIES TO REALLY MOVE THEM ON TO-- ONLINE WITH THE KIND OF MONEY THAT WE'RE USING. I KNOW HE CAN USE IT FOR OVERTIME BUT OUR OWN DEPUTIES ARE ALREADY COMPLAINING ABOUT FORCED OVERTIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M BEING ASKED IS ABOUT OVERTIME FOR UTILIZATION IN OUR UNINCORPORATED AREAS, WHICH I'D LIKE TO SEE AND I'M LOOKING AT THOSE FIGURES NOW. BUT I STILL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS OVERTIME? IS IT A DEPUTY THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE WORKING 64 HOURS A WEEK OR WHAT? SO WHERE IS THAT PLAN? I KNOW WE GAVE IT TO YOU. WE MADE YOU THE HEAD OF IT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I THINK THAT DELIBERATION-- IT'S TOO EARLY FOR PART OF IT. IT'S SIMPLY TOO EARLY TO SAY. WE JUST COMPLETED NEGOTIATIONS, THE SALARIES IMPROVED, THE RECRUITMENT LEVELS ARE BETTER. THAT JUST HAPPENED APRIL 1ST, AND THIS IS APRIL 13TH. SO I THINK...
SUP. MOLINA: YEAH, BUT IF YOU REMEMBER... CORRECTLY, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING. A LOT OF PEOPLE CLAIMED IT WAS THE SALARIES BUT, ONCE YOU START LOOKING AT IT, THAT ISN'T THE PROBLEM IN THE RECRUITMENT AREA.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT...
SUP. MOLINA: L.A.P.D. IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR SALARIES ARE HIGHER AND THEY ONLY WORK 34 HOURS A WEEK.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THE SHERIFF FILLS HIS ACADEMIES, THE CITY POLICE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT FOR SOME REASON. THE SHERIFF IS FILLING HIS ACADEMIES, HE'S RUNNING THEM BACK-TO-BACK AND YOU'RE GOING TO CORRECT EVERYTHING I JUST SAID? [ LAUGHTER ]
SHARON HARPER: NO, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE THE TEAM THAT YOU ASKED US TO PUT TOGETHER AND THE MEETING HAS BEEN SET FOR MAY THE 2ND AT 4:00 TO GO OVER...
SUP. MOLINA: HOW LOVELY AND THEN EVERYONE WILL LEAVE AT 5:00, SO IT HAS TAKEN YOU THREE MONTHS TO SET UP ONE MEETING AT 4:00. SO DO YOU MEAN THAT-- AND THEN, FROM THAT MEETING IS WHEN ALL OF IT WILL HAPPEN? I WAS SORT OF HOPING YOU'D HAVE ONGOING MEETINGS ABOUT THIS KIND OF STUFF. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT IN AN HOUR?
SHARON HARPER: IF IT TAKES LONGER THAN AN HOUR, WE STAY. WE DON'T GO HOME AT 5:00.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I CAN ATTEST TO THAT.
SUP. MOLINA: WHAT? YOU CAN SAY THAT FOR SHARON BUT CAN YOU SAY THAT FOR THE SHERIFF? [ LAUGHTER ]
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN SHARON HERE AT AS LATE AS 5:30, 5:40. [ LAUGHTER ]
SHARON HARPER: NO. WE'LL GET THE PLAN TOGETHER AND WE'LL SUBMIT IT TO YOUR OFFICE AND THE OTHER BOARD OFFICES WITH ACTUAL TIME FRAMES AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK IT, ALONG WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
SUP. MOLINA: BECAUSE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE NEW MONEYS THAT ARE GOING IN, RIGHT, WHICH WE ARE PROUD TO SAY AND EVERYBODY WANTING MORE POLICE PROTECTION AND CERTAINLY YOU EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE PUTTING IN, WHICH IS QUITE A BIT, WITH THE ISSUE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE A.C.L.U., YOU KNOW, COMING DOWN ON US ON THE JAIL ISSUES, THERE IS AN ISSUE ABOUT STAFFING, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT AND YOU CAN'T PULL IT OUT OF OVERTIME. THERE'S A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME WHERE THAT LITTLE RUBBER BAND IS JUST GOING TO BUST. AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING AND IF IT MEANS THE INCENTIVES, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT DOES, WE HAVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT. THIS IS AN AREA WE'VE NOT EVER DWELLED-- DELVED INTO AT ALL BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD THE MONEY. I MEAN, WE BARELY WERE KEEPING UP TO AUTHORIZED STRENGTH. NOW WE'RE GOING BEYOND IT AND WE'RE NOT EVEN MAINTAINING AUTHORIZED STRENGTH. AUTHORIZED STRENGTH IS BARELY BEING MET ON OVERTIME RIGHT NOW. SO ADDING ALL THESE NEW POSITIONS REALLY REQUIRES SOME KIND OF MAGIC RECRUITMENT SITUATION GOING ON. AND SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, AND, HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT SOON, SO WE WILL GET THAT BEFORE THE BUDGET?
SHARON HARPER: YES.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY TELLING IN SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS.
SUP. KNABE: COULD I JUST PIGGYBACK ON THAT A BIT?
SUP. MOLINA: SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
SUP. KNABE: THERE'S ANOTHER MOTION THAT I HAD HERE. LAST YEAR, IN ANTICIPATION OF ADDITIONAL HIRES THAT WE WERE AUTHORIZING, THE BOARD SET ASIDE $13 MILLION IN THE SHERIFF UNINCORPORATED PATROL DESIGNATION AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PART OF THE REPORT BACK AND THE MOTION THAT I HAVE IS TO ASK THE C.A.O., IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SHERIFF, TO REPORT BACK DURING OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WITH A FISCAL AND HIRING PLAN TO COMMENCE THE EXPENDITURE OF THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT EXPENDED THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND, IS THAT CORRECT?
SHARON HARPER: THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE, AT THE TIME THE BOARD ALLOCATED THE MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT, THEY HAD INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START PUTTING THE ACTUAL BODIES THERE...
SUP. KNABE: INTO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
SHARON HARPER: ...INTO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA UNTIL THE JAILS WERE STAFFED UP, SO THAT WOULD BE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND THAT WAS A LOT OF CONCERN FOR YOUR BOARD BUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS ADAMANT THAT THEY NEEDED TO FUND THE JAILS FIRST AND THEN MOVE INTO THE UNINCORPORATED PATROL.
SUP. KNABE: BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY SET-- GLORIA, WE SET ASIDE $13 MILLION FOR UNINCORPORATED PATROL DESIGNATION AND, I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT IN JUNE. I MEAN, WE JUST LET IT SIT THERE. I KNOW WE'RE DOING THE STAFFING ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO THE JAILS BUT WE STILL HAVE THE UNINCORPORATED DESIGNATION OF THESE DOLLARS TO AT LEAST COME BACK...
SUP. MOLINA: BUT I THOUGHT HE SPENT IT AND WE'RE ALLOCATING NEW MONEY, NO?
SUP. KNABE: NO. THIS IS SET ASIDE.
SUP. MOLINA: THIS IS THE SAME OLD MONEY?
SHARON HARPER: YES.
SUP. KNABE: I MEAN, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE ISSUE, HE HASN'T SPENT WHAT WE GAVE HIM.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: (OFF MIKE)
SUP. KNABE: I KNOW BUT IT WAS THERE JUST IN CASE HE COULD STAFF UP. SO, I MEAN, THE MOTION THAT I PUT OUT THERE IS JUST THAT WE COME BACK AND WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THE EXPENDITURE IN THE UNINCORPORATED PATROL DESIGNATION DOLLARS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: RIGHT. AND ON THAT POINT, THE 13 MILLION, THEN, WE'RE GOING TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MILLION TO THE '07/'08 BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE THE 18 MILLION TO ENHANCE THAT. I KNOW A LOT OF THE CITIES HAVE ENHANCED THEIR ABILITIES AND WE NEED TO DO THAT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. SO IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS TO IMPROVE THEIR PATROLS.
SUP. MOLINA: LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT. THERE IS NOT NEW MONEY IN THIS BUDGET TO ADD TO IT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WE SET ASIDE LAST YEAR, PLANNING AHEAD, INSTEAD OF SPENDING ALL THE MONEY ON WHATEVER, THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS A PRIORITY, SO WE SET ASIDE-- YOU ALLOCATED, APPROVED, 13.7 MILLION DOLLARS FOR "X" NUMBER OF DEPUTIES BUT, AT THE TIME, RECOGNIZED THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND IT, SHARON SAYS, UNTIL '07/'08 BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE THE SHERIFF TO FILL THE 1,000 VACANCIES BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THAT MONEY BE IDENTIFIED AND SET ASIDE. IT'S GOING TO FALL TO FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR BASICALLY IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT'S THERE, IT'S REAL MONEY, IT'S ONGOING. NOW, IF THE SHERIFF CAN IMPROVE HIS SUCCESS IN HIRING, THEN HE CAN MOVE PEOPLE MORE QUICKLY INTO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. THE MONEY'S THERE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU AT THE JUNE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS TO DEVELOP A PLAN WITH THE SHERIFF TO EXPEDITE THE INCREASE IN UNINCORPORATED...
SUP. MOLINA: WHICH IS WHAT DON'S MOTION DOES AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD MOTION AS WELL AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO IT, IF I COULD, IS-- BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME NEW MONEY IN THIS BUDGET BUT WHAT YOU DID IS YOU JUST CARRIED IT OVER FROM LAST YEAR.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THAT'S CORRECT.
SUP. MOLINA: I THOUGHT HE HAD ABSORBED THE 13 MILLION AND JUST USED IT FOR REGULAR OLD OVERTIME.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY. IMPRESSIVE. IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE AND THIS HAS BEEN MY GRIPE FOR A WHILE BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN SET UP A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THOSE ALLOCATIONS. SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE LOOK AT THAT.
SUP. KNABE: THAT WOULD BE A VERY UNIQUE CONCEPT. THAT WOULD BE NICE.
SUP. MOLINA: SO IF I COULD ADD THAT TO YOUR MOTION?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AND WHETHER IT'S LEGAL. THAT WOULD BE ALSO...
SUP. KNABE: YEAH, WHETHER IT'S LEGAL.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: OR WHETHER IT'S BINDING, LEGALLY BINDING.
SUP. MOLINA: AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S LEGALLY BINDING OR NOT...
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YES, IT'S NOT A CONTRACT BUT IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTANDING.
SUP. MOLINA: ...BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE TAXPAYERS THAT HOUND ME ALL DAY LONG ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE PATROL AND JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS, THEY SHOULDN'T BE TREATED ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN SOME OF MY CITIES THAT ARE INCORPORATED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO WE HAVE THE THREE MOTIONS BY KNABE, MOLINA AND MYSELF ON THIS TOPIC OF UNINCORPORATED PATROLS. WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION?
SUP. KNABE: WE DIDN'T VOTE ON THE FIRST MOTION.
SUP. MOLINA: WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON ANY OF THEM.
SUP. KNABE: HE JUST VOTED ON THESE MOTIONS HERE, YOURS AND MINE BUT THE ONE ON D.C.F.S...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: BY KNABE AND MOLINA, WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: HANG ON A SECOND.
SUP. MOLINA: CAN I READ THE MOTION THAT I HAVE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH STUFF?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YOU WANT TO WAIT ONE SECOND WHILE THEY'RE CLARIFYING. SUPERVISOR MOLINA.
SUP. MOLINA: DAVID, THIS IS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH THING, I HAVE A MOTION.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: OKAY.
SUP. MOLINA: I WAS JUST DOING IT ORALLY WITH YOU BUT I GUESS MY STAFF DOES HAVE IT AND I'LL PASS IT OUT. IT SAYS I THEREFORE MOVE THAT THE BOARD INSTRUCT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CAO, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO IDENTIFY THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES OF MULTIYEAR SERVICE PLAN REDUCTIONS TO LIMIT THE RELIANCE ON ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCES TO RESOLVE THE STRUCTURAL SHORTFALLS AND FINANCIAL STABILIZE THE DEPARTMENT. THIS REPORT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD BEFORE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THAT'S FINE.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY. SO, BUT AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE CUTTING BACK ON ANYTHING. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT, EXACTLY.
SUP. MOLINA: SO THAT, SHOULD WE HAVE MORE MONEY, WE COULD CREATE THIS AND I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF IT GETS REIMBURSED BACK.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: MM HM.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: IS THIS NOT WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING ALREADY?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: YES, HE ALREADY DOING THAT. THAT'S WHY...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I UNDERSTAND. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I'LL TELL YOU, I HAVE-- I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THEIR BUDGETING BUSINESS AND ALL THAT BUT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY YEAR, WE'VE HAD THIS-- AT LEAST FOR THE LAST SEVERAL, WE'VE HAD THIS EXACT SAME SITUATION. THE TEMPERATURE IS RAISED ON ALL THE AGENCIES. ALL OF A SUDDEN AT THE END, NEW MONEY IS FOUND OR LOSS OF MONEY IS NOT AS GREAT AS ANTICIPATED AND EVERYTHING GOES AWAY. AND I'M TIRED OF IT. I'M TIRED OF GETTING-- OF HAVING TO EXPLAIN TO MY CONSTITUENT AGENCIES WHAT'S GOING ON AND THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY, DAVID. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN MYSELF PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THEIR BUDGETING PROBLEMS BUT, IF I HAVE TO, I WILL. THIS IS KIND OF RIDICULOUS.
SUP. KNABE: SEPTEMBER/MARCH MIRACLES, HUH?
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WE USED TO HAVE THAT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WE'VE KIND OF STABILIZED MOST OF THAT BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATED AHEAD OF TIME. THIS, FOR SOME REASON, IS STILL A FREE RADICAL OUT THERE JUST DOING ITS OWN THING AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD SOME GOOD PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THEIR ARMS AROUND THIS IN THE DEPARTMENT BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY. I MEAN, DOES EVERY OTHER COUNTY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM? OR ARE WE THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT HAS 40, 50-MILLION-DOLLAR DEFICITS WHEN WE GET TO APRIL AND MAY, APPARENT DEFICITS THAT GET RESOLVED? I MEAN, DOES SAN FRANCISCO HAVE THIS? DOES SAN BERNARDINO? RIVERSIDE? SANTA CLARA? WHAT ARE THEY DOING THAT WE AREN'T DOING? CAN YOU GET THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS DONE MAYBE IN ADVANCE OF JUNE?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: NO, I-- I THINK THE INTENT AND THE MOTION ALL HOPEFULLY WILL LEAD US TO WHAT EXACTLY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS A STABILIZATION PLAN SO WE DON'T DO THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR MOLINA?
SUP. MOLINA: THAT WAS IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE BOARD ALLOCATED RESOURCES TO INCREASE STAFFING AT JUVENILE HALLS. THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IS EVALUATING ITS STAFFING LEVELS IN THE CAMPS WITH THE GOAL OF REDESIGNING THE MANNER WHICH SERVES THE MINORS ABOVE AND BEYOND, PROVIDING MINIMUM AND BASIC LEVEL SECURITY. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE BOARD DIRECT THE C.A.O. AND THE PROBATION OFFICER TO PRESENT AT THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE STAFFING LEVELS AND NECESSARY SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS AT OUR PROBATION CAMPS, SO...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THAT'S ALSO GOING ON RIGHT NOW, ISN'T IT? SO THIS IS JUST REITERATING WHAT'S ALREADY UNDER WAY.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'LL BE DONE BY THEN BUT WE'LL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DO IT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SECONDED BY YAROSLAVSKY, WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
SUP. KNABE: I HAD ANOTHER MOTION THAT RELATES TO SYBIL BRAND. I'M ASKING THE C.A.O. TO REPORT BACK IN JUNE ON A PLAN TO FULLY FUND THAT $160 MILLION WITH EXISTING COUNTY RESOURCES NEEDED TO REOPEN THE SYBIL BRAND JAIL, SO...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I HAVE A SIMILAR MOTION. MOTION BY KNABE AND SECONDED...
SUP. MOLINA: CAN I HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO IT?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SURE.
SUP. MOLINA: I'D LIKE TO ASK-- THE COMMUNITY IS GETTING UNGLUED OUT THERE ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE SHERIFF HAD GONE OUT THERE ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND SAID IT WILL NEVER REOPEN WHILE HE WAS SHERIFF. AND SO THEY'RE VERY UPSET AND IT'S A LARGE, VERY INTENSE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR THINGS ARE UP THERE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING, SO I WANT US TO HAVE SOME KIND OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND PROCESS FOR IT TO...
SUP. MOLINA: INCLUDING...
SUP. KNABE: SIMILAR TO WHAT I WANTED FOR THE HOMELESS ISSUE, AS I RECOLLECT.
SUP. MOLINA: WHICH WE SAID ALL CITIES GET. UNINCORPORATED DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY GET IT. I'M THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE THEY HAVE.
SUP. KNABE: I'M AGREEING TO THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. WHY CAN'T IT BE FRIENDLY TO ME SOMETIMES?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO ON BOTH MOTIONS THAT INVOLVE COMMUNITY...
SUP. MOLINA: IT WAS FRIENDLY TO YOU. I SAID THAT IF YOU WERE-- EVERY CITY WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO HAVE A STABILIZATION CENTER, THAT THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY DO IT AND THE SAME THING WITH THE HOUSING. THE HOUSING IS BY MANDATE BUT THE REALITY IS, I SAID LET'S FIND A WAY THAT WE COULD WORK WITH THEM SO THAT-- AS TO HOW WE CAN INCLUDE IT AND THAT'S THE SAME THING HERE. I'M NOT OPPOSED NECESSARILY TO SYBIL BRAND NOT REOPENING BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN THE SHERIFF WENT OUT THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND SAID ONE THING AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ON MY BACK AND I THINK WE NEED TO INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YOU'RE RIGHT.
SUP. KNABE: YEAH. NO, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD CONCUR WITH THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
SUP. MOLINA: OKAY. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND ALSO FOR THE JUNE BUDGET, IF WE COULD ASK THE C.E.O. TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING FOR THE ADDITIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS THAT HAD BEEN REQUESTED FOR THAT JUNE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WHAT'S THE NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MOTION? IS THERE A NUMBER?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SHE'LL GIVE YOU THE--
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHEN WE HAVE THESE MOTIONS AND WE APPROVE THEM, DO YOU TAKE THAT AS DIRECTION TO DO IT OR IS IT JUST TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER TO DO IT? BECAUSE I THOUGHT...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: I THINK IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL TO HAVE THIS MANY MOTIONS THIS EARLY. THESE ARE USUALLY DELIBERATION MOTIONS, SO WE'LL COME BACK WITH A FULL DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION, WHAT IT WILL TAKE AND-- MOVE THE BOARD DIRECT TO IDENTIFY FUNDING. WELL, THIS DIRECTS US TO FUND THEM, SO IF THAT'S THE INTENT, THAT'S FINE BUT...
SUP. MOLINA: IT IS ASKING FOR REPORTS.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: WE REALLY OUGHT TO WAIT UNTIL DELIBERATIONS, I THINK.
SUP. KNABE: BUT, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS STILL TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE THAT ZEV MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT NOT WAITING UNTIL THE END OF JUNE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS BUT ASK FOR A REPORT BACK.
C.A.O. DAVE JANSSEN: NO, I-- BUT THIS DOESN'T SAY THAT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WELL, THAT'S FINE. THEN THEY DON'T SAY THAT, THEY OUGHT TO SAY THE BOARD-- THEREFORE MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REQUEST THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO REPORT BACK...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: TO REPORT BACK DURING DELIBERATIONS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ...ON FUNDING FOR 20-- REPORT BACK INSTEAD OF DIRECT THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO IDENTIFY. IS THAT? CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THAT'S FINE.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: EITHER WAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION BUT THIS IS A DIRECTIVE TO DO IT.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SO IT'S CHANGED NOW. IT'S GOING TO BE-- SO STRIKE DIRECT AND PUT REPORT BACK...
SUP. KNABE: WELL, EITHER WAY, I MEAN, THE POINT BEING IS THAT...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ...REQUEST THE C.E.O. TO REPORT BACK ON FUNDING FOR 20 ADDITIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS. NOW, I JUST DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE TWO MONTHS FROM NOW LOOKING BACK AT THIS AND SAYING, WELL, WE DIRECTED HIM TO DO IT, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE-- I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR THIS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THEY DID. THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ORDINANCE.
SUP. MOLINA: I HAVE ANOTHER MOTION.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. SUPERVISOR MOLINA.
SUP. MOLINA: I HAVE A MOTION, AND THIS IS AUTHORED BY MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH. LAST FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE UNEXPECTED REVENUE GENERATED BY PROPERTY TAXES AND BECAUSE THE STATE BUDGET WAS LESS HARMFUL THAN ANTICIPATED, THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO RESTORE THE FUNDING FOR CRITICAL LOCAL SERVICES SUCH AS PUBLIC LIBRARIES, PARKS AND A COPS PROGRAM IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY. TODAY, OUR BOARD HAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MANY OF OUR UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHOSE RESIDENTS USE VITAL AND CRITICAL SERVICES ON A DAILY BASIS. I THEREFORE MOVE THAT THE C.A.O. DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENHANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS WITH THE ONE-TIME AVAILABLE FUNDS FROM THE DESIGNATION FOR BUDGET UNCERTAINTIES AND REPORT BACK JUNE 26TH AND THAT'S AGAIN DURING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SECOND?
SUP. KNABE: SECOND.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
SUP. KNABE: I HAVE JUST ONE FINAL MOTION. IT GOES BACK TO THE ISSUE THAT WE DEALT WITH D.C.F.S. THE SAME THING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS BUDGET INDICATES 800 NEW POSITIONS. MANY OF THOSE, WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE NURSING ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US BUT THERE ARE 100 ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS WITHIN THIS RECOMMENDATION AND I WOULD JUST MOTION WOULD MOVE THAT WE INSTRUCT THE C.A.O. AND DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES TO REPORT BACK IN JUNE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WITH THE ADDITIONAL JUSTIFICATION AND, AGAIN, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 100 ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SECOND.
SUP. KNABE: AND REPORT BACK IN CAPITAL LETTERS, ZEV.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
SUP. KNABE: ALL RIGHT. I WOULD MOVE THE ITEM WITH THE MOTIONS.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THE MOTION WOULD BE REPORT BACK... (OFF-MIKE).
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WE HAVE A MOTION BY KNABE. SECONDED BY MOLINA. YOU GOING TO CALL THE ROLL.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: SUPERVISOR MOLINA?
SUP. MOLINA, CHAIR: AYE.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: AYE.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: SUPERVISOR KNABE?
SUP. KNABE: AYE.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH?
SUP. ANTONOVICH: ABSTAIN.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: CARRIES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MOTION CARRIES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ABSTAIN. YOU SHOULD FEEL VERY GOOD...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: NO, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND. THE KEY IS, AT THE BUDGET TIME, THAT WE SEE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY WILL HAVE THEIR NEEDS BE MET.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: ALL RIGHT. NO MORE SPEECHES. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WELL, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S GENERATED IT.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: THIS BUDGET ITEM INCLUDED 10 MOTIONS.
SUP. KNABE: WHO'S COUNTING?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THAT WAS WITH THE ONE KNABE DID ON THE SYBIL BRAND. I THINK I HAD-- MINE WAS IN THERE, TOO. THEY WERE TOGETHER. KNABE SECONDS. ON S-1, THERE WAS A SET ITEM BUT SHOULD CONTINUE THAT FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN THE SHERIFF WILL BE COMPLETING HIS INVESTIGATION I BELIEVE AT THAT TIME RELATIVE TO THE ALLEGED UN-AUTHORIZATION...
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT. WE'LL SEE WHERE THEY ARE AT THAT POINT AND-- FOR TWO WEEKS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ON S-1, WE'LL CONTINUE THAT FOR TWO WEEKS WHEN THE SHERIFF'S REPORT COMES BACK IN LIGHT OF THE TIME AND EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO MOVED, SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THIS ONE WILL BE CONTINUED FOR TWO WEEKS.
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: TWO WEEKS AT 11:00 A.M.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: 11:00 A.M. AND THAT'S THE SHERIFF WILL HAVE HIS SET ITEM AT THAT TIME, TOO. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT.
C.A.O. JANSSEN: S-2 IS THE QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT FOR THE HEALTH BUDGET.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THAT?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: YOU HAVE QUITE A LENGTHY DOCUMENT-- YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CONTINUE. WE OUGHT TO KEEP IT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT TO DISCUSS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SO CONTINUE IT FOR TWO WEEKS?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: RIGHT.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. S-2 WILL BE CONTINUED FOR TWO WEEKS AT 11:30. MOTION BY-- SO MOVED, SECONDED BY MOLINA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. OKAY. WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. ERNESTO GARCIA, BRUCE DEDARIAN, AND ALLAN CLAYTON. OKAY. CAN YOU OPEN THE-- THANK YOU. IS BRUCE DARIAN HERE? BRUCE? IF NOT-- ERNESTO AND ALLAN, JUST GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU SPEAK, WHICH YOU ALREADY KNOW, SO-- HOW ARE YOU DOING? OKAY. TRANSLATION.
(VOICE OF INTERPRETER): GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ERNESTO GARCIA, PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION IN CITY OF COMPTON. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THIS MEETING. THEY TOOK UP AN INDIVIDUAL OUT AND BEAT HIM UP AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS RIGHT. IT REMINDED ME OF WHAT THE INSPECTORS DO IN THE CITY OF COMPTON WHEN THEY GO TO THE RESIDENTS. THE OFFICIAL ON THE SIDE, HE SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE CARRIED ON WITH THIS MEETING. I THINK YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS LIKE HIM. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF COMPTON. THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL BY THE NAME OF IGNACIO PENA WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN JAIL. I SUE HIM FOR A MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE HE THREW ME OUT OF THE COLLEGE AND HE ALSO FIRED HIS DAUGHTER FROM HER JOB. BUT SINCE I KNEW HE WAS ALREADY PUT IN JAIL, I TOOK THE SUIT BACK. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT SOMETHING ELSE. I HAVE SUPERVISOR YVONNE BURKE FROM YEAR 2001. MY NAME IS HERE IS ERNESTO GARCIA IN THIS NEWSPAPER. THEY HAVE USED LATINOS IN THE ELECTIONS. THEY'RE ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY. I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE MORE ATTENTION AND NOT TO BE USING LATINS IN THEIR PROPS. I'M BRINGING YOU THIS PAPER THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY'RE ALWAYS FLOATING-- THESE PAPERS ARE COMING FROM NORWALK. I THINK, MAYOR, THAT IF THEY USE LATINS, THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR PANTS AND THEIR ANIMALS SO THEY CAN SURVIVE. I SAW YOUR CHILDREN RIGHT THERE BY YOU AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU CARE A LOT FOR THEM JUST AS MUCH AS WE CARE FOR OURS AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR OFFICIAL [ OVERLAPPING VOICES ] TO PROTECT THE FAMILIES LATINAS. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AS A PARTNERSHIP. I DISCOVER THE FRAUD AT THE COLLEGE OF COMPTON. I DON'T COME HERE TO FIGHT WITH YOU GUYS. AND I KNOW WHERE TO GO. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND I WAS HERE ALL DAY WAITING TO TALK TO YOU. PLEASE, MAYOR, PUT ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE CONSULAR FROM MEXICO IS SUPPORTING YOU ON THE VOTING. AND THERE IS A LOT OF MEXICANS THAT ARE GIVING YOU THE SUPPORT AND ONE OF THEM THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST ANY KIND OF ABUSE TO THE COMMUNITY OR NOT JUST THE LATINOS BUT FROM EVERYBODY, TO HELP YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. BUT I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE WITH YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. I HOPE I GET YOUR HELP.
ALLAN CLAYTON: YES. FIRST OF ALL, I'M SPEAKING ON THE ITEM IN CLOSED SESSION, NOT ON PUBLIC COMMENT. THE ITEM DEALS WITH THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER POSITION AND THE ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO RAISE IS THAT THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT RECENTLY SAW THE PASSING OF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WORKED VERY HARD TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE DEPARTMENT, PAUL HEGA, AND I WANT TO COMMEND HIM FOR ALL HIS WORK. HE WAS A DECENT PERSON AND I ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM IN HIS TIME IN THE DEPARTMENT. HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING WITH THE SHIFT CARD FUNDING WHICH I WORKED AND ALSO WITH THE PROBATION CAMPS WHEN THERE WAS THE FIGHT BACK IN THE '90S TO CLOSE THE CAMPS. HE WAS AN INTEGRAL PERSON THAT REALLY CAME FORTH AND HELPED AND WORK TO GET THAT LEGISLATION THROUGH TO SAVE THE CAMPS AND THE THOUSAND EMPLOYEES. THE ISSUE I'M HERE BEFORE TODAY IS I NOTICE, I GET THE BOARD AGENDA, THAT THERE WAS-- BEFORE THE CLOSED SESSION, THE ITEM OF THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER AND THE QUESTION I HAD, ARE YOU GOING TO DO A SEARCH OR ARE YOU GOING TO APPOINT-- THE DEPARTMENT OBVIOUSLY HAS A LARGE GROUP OF MEMBERS IN THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH CHICANO'S EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, WE'RE VERY ACTIVE AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUES DEALING WITH STAFFING, SAFETY, ISSUES DEALING WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS SO THEY CAN REHABILITATE THEMSELVES AND WORKING WITH THEIR PARENTS AND I DO WANT TO APPLAUD THE DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT INCREASING THE STAFFING AT THE HALLS, IT'S VITALLY NEEDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THEIR JOB AND BASICALLY PUTTING THEIR CAREERS ON THE LINE FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SAFETY BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE TOP LEVEL POSITIONS, THAT YOU TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT WHO IS OUT THERE IN THE FIELD. YOU HAVE THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY AND I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK. IN TERMS OF THE ACTING CHIEF THAT'S THERE NOW, I HAVE NOT MET WITH HIM. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HIM AS FAR AS HIS BACKGROUND. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH HIM AND HAVING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP JUST LIKE WITH ALL CHIEFS. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE '86 AND WORKED WITH ALL OF THEM AND IT'S A CHALLENGING DEPARTMENT WITH THE AMOUNT OF AT-RISK YOUTH NOW ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT INNOVATIVE WAYS. ONE POINT I DO WANT TO MAKE, THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICERS RIGHT NOW ARE TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT BY INCREASING THE SHIFT CARDENAS MONEY BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT WHICH WOULD BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE BOTH UNDER COPS AND UNDER THE JUVENILE JUSTICE, IT'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER AND HAVE YOUR STAFF IN SACRAMENTO LOOK AT. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING, BECAUSE I GOT A CALL AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT VERY AGGRESSIVELY. AND ALSO IN FUNDING FOR THE PROBATION CAMPS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING IS IMPORTANT. BUT DEALING WITH THE CHIEF, I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT IT. IT'S A VERY TOUGH JOB. IT'S VERY NECESSARY TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR CONCERN IN THE PAST WITH THE DEPARTMENT, IN DEALING WITH THEM, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD IS DIVERSITY AT THE TOP LEVEL. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED THE FACT, AT THE SENIOR PROBATION DIRECTOR LEVEL, THERE WERE NO LATINOS FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND WE'RE ASKING THAT, WHOEVER BECOMES THE CHIEF, AND IF YOU CHOSE TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF DIVERSITY AND ALSO THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TRAINING, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TRAINING AND WE HAVE A VERY GOOD DEPARTMENT IN MANY, MANY WAYS BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVEMENT, JUST LIKE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SO WE HOPE YOU TAKE A LOOK. IF YOU DO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH, WE HOPE YOU DO OUTREACH TO LATINOS AND OTHER MINORITIES AND GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE OUR CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT IN THE COUNTY, THERE IS A LACK OF LATINOS AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE VARIOUS OPTIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALLAN CLAYTON: THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. ON ANOTHER POINT, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS LOOKING AT SEPARATING PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THE GOVERNOR TODAY HAS COME OUT IN-- REQUESTS SEPARATING PUBLIC HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE IMMINENT BIRD FLU THAT'S COMING INTO A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT. SO PERHAPS THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THEY FOLLOWED THE STUDY THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNTY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: DO WE HAVE A DATE CERTAIN FOR THAT? JUNE 6TH IS ELECTION DAY. SO IS IT THE NEXT DAY? JUNE 7TH?
C.A.O. JANSSEN: JUNE 7TH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: MAY. IN MAY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: MAY 23RD. [ OVERLAPPING VOICES ]
C.A.O. JANSSEN: IT'S THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE. IT NEEDS TO BE THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE. JUNE 7TH. GOOD.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. WE WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER WILL READ THE...
CLERK ROBIN GUERRERO: IN ACCORDANCE WITH BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEM CS-1, CONSIDERATION OF CANDIDATE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION OF PROBATION OFFICER AND CONFERENCE WITH THE LABOR NEGOTIATOR MICHAEL J. HENRY, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL, AS INDICATED ON THE POSTED AGENDA. AS A NOTE, THE APRIL 25TH, 2006 BOARD MEETING IS CANCELED. THE BOARDS WILL BE HOLDING SPECIAL MEETINGS ON APRIL 26 AND 27 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO MEET WITH FEDERAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU.
REPORT OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION ON APRIL 18, 2006
CS-1. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT (Government Code Section 54957) Consider candidates for appointment to the position of Probation Officer.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency Representative: Michael J. Henry, Director of Personnel Unrepresented Employee: Candidate for position of Probation Officer.
Action Taken:
Pursuant to County Code Section 2.06.010B, the Board waived the provisions of 2.06.010A and 2.06.020 through 2.06.030, and appointed Robert B. Taylor to the position of Probation Officer, effective May 3, 2006; and instructed the Director of Personnel to negotiate an annual salary and execute an at-will employment contract which is approved as to form by the County Counsel subsequent to approval of an annual salary for Robert B. Taylor by the Board of Supervisors.
The vote of the Board was unanimous, with Supervisor Burke being absent.
I, JENNIFER A. HINES, Certified Shorthand Reporter
Number 6029/RPR/CRR qualified in and for the State of California, do hereby certify:
That the transcripts of proceedings recorded by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors April 18, 2006,
were thereafter transcribed into typewriting under my direction and supervision;
That the transcript of recorded proceedings as archived in the office of the reporter and which
have been provided to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as certified by me.
I further certify that I am neither counsel for, nor related to any party to the said action; nor
in anywise interested in the outcome thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of April 2006 for the County records to be used only for authentication purposes of duly certified transcripts
as on file of the office of the reporter.
JENNIFER A. HINES
CSR No. 6029/RPR/CRR
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related download
Related searches
- los angeles county department of public health
- los angeles county preliminary change
- los angeles county pcor pdf
- los angeles county courts
- los angeles county courthouses
- los angeles county superior court
- los angeles county superior court norwalk
- los angeles county of records
- los angeles county registrar recorder website
- los angeles county records department
- los angeles county hall of records
- los angeles county recorder s office